NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES
vvl\\::n.4>i\ Co I,
THE NETWORK
IN MKMiUn
Of Thosi' Kilk'il in the Springfield and Helmont Massacres. Erecteil at
Jackson in 1909.
AN-
ILLU5TRATED HISTORY
OF-
JACKSON COUNTY
MINNESOTA
BY
ARTHUR P. ROSE
Author of The History of Nobles County,
Kzxyo
Northern History Publistiing Company
Jackson. Minnesota
Publistiers
1910
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
035887
ASTOR, LENOX AND
TILOtN FOUNDATIONS.
R 1»'3 L
To THL memory of the twenty men,
women and children who met death at
the hands of the Indians in Jackson county in
the massacres of 1857 and 1862, this volume is
respectfully dedicated.
FOREWORD
OF ALL the counties oi' Southwestern .Minnesota Jaelvson has the most
interesting history. Settled as it was years before inhahitants caiiie to
other portions of Southwestern Minnesota, its early iiistory is more re-
]ilete with stirring events than that of its neiglibors. On its soil was enacted
the first Indian outbreak in Minnesota, in whieli a number o( hardy pioneers
wlio had ]>ushcd out onto the fiontiei' met death. Later, during the Sioii.v war,
the soil of tlie county was again crimsoned with the blood of tlmse whd were
endeavoring to found lionics on the Inintiei-. Such was Ibe priee paid by thos<'
who came to live in Jaclison county a lialf century ago.
Witli this volume is presented the first Jackson county Iiistory. tlie material
for its compilation having been obtained almost wholly from original sources.
Friendly coadjutors have assisted materially in its preparation. From j\Irs.
Sharp's "History of the Spirit Lake Massacre," ''Minnesota in Three Cen-
turies," recently published, and the writings of Honorable Warren Upham, sec-
retary of the Minnesota Historical Society, the author has )nade lii)eral quo-
tations, and other authorities have been consulted. To the editorial fi-aternity
of Jackson county the author is under obligations. The files of their publica-
tions have been of incstinial>lc value in furnishing authentic data. Especially
valuable were those of that pioneer journal, the Jackson Eepublic, of which
liberal use has been made, and without which much of historical importance
must have renuiined unrecorded. Due ai-knowdedgment is made to county offi-
cials, wdio assisted in the hunt for early day records, and to scores of citizens
in private life, who interested themselves in the work to the extent of devoting
time to the detailing of early day events.
Special mention is due the assistance given by Captain Jareb Palmer,
without whose help the account of the county's very early settlement and of the
Springfield massacre would have been woefully incomplete; Mr. Ole Anderson,
to whom must be given the credit for much of the information relating to tlie
early Norwegian settlement and the Belmont massacre; Mr. T. J. Knox and
Mr. John S. Woolstencroft, -who assisted tlie author in many ways ami who.
with Captain Palmer, served as tlic committee to review' and revise tlie work be-
fore it was put to press. In tlie work of gathering the data tlie anthoi- lias
been ably assisted by Mr. P. D. Moore.
Probablv no historical work was ever put to press which entirely satisfied
its author. There are so many pitfalls in the path of him wdio seeks to record
the events of the past; the liuman mind is so prone to err in recalling dates
and names of a former day. So it happens that the writer of local history,
compiling bis story from data of which only a part can be verified, knows that
there must be errors in his work, albeit he may have exercised the greatest care.
With no apologies, but with this lirief cxiilanation. and the realization that tlie
work is not perfect, this history of Jackson county is put forth.
Jackson, Minnesota, January, 1910. ARTHUR P. ROSE.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
t'llAPTKi; 1.
AIJOHKilXAL 1JAV^^1834-1855.
Pie-Hisl.oi ic Timrs — Tlie Eartli in the Makiiig — Geological Periods — Early liiliabitants —
The Mounc; Builders — The Indians — Origin of the Sioux — Tlwir Tribal Divisions —
.Southern Aliiuitsota Indians — The Sifsetons — Tnkpadutii's Band — Treaties with the
Sioux — Early Explorers and Their Maps — LeSueur — Carver — Albert Lea's Expedi-
tion — Joseph X. Nii-ollot Explores Jaekson County — And Maps It — Tehan-Shetclia
Lake — Captain Allen Passes Through County — His Description — Big Game — Sur-
veyors Enn Boundary Line — Eeno's ^Military Boad Survey — Keal Estate Si)eeulation
— JinnugraHon to ^linne^ota 25
CHAPTER II.
EAli LY SETTLEMENT— 1830.
The first Settlers — Wood Brothers^Found Springfield — And Open Store — Their Claims
— First Building in the County — The Webster City Party — Settle at Springfield —
Experience With Half Bre(?d — Indian Camps at Springfield — Gaboo and Umpashota
— Permanent Settlers of 1856 — Location of Cabins — Prepar.itions for Winter —
Short of l^rovisions — The Severe AVinter — Mail Route Established — Mail Carrier
Perishes — Trip to Slocum's — William Wood's Grit — Robert Smith and John Hen-
derson Lost in Storm — Badly Frozen — Surgical Operations — "Do.-tor'" Strong the
Hero — Birth of First White Oiild — Visits from Indians — Slee]>y Eye — Inkpaduta —
Sioux Not Feared — Are Entertained 37
CHAPTER III.
THE SPIRIT LAKE MASSACRE— 1857.
Causes of Massacre — Formation of Outlaw Band — Murder of Tahsahghee — Inkpaduta
Implicated — Description of Inkpaduta — Chiefs Black Eagle and Sidominadota--
History of tlie Band — Show Hostility to the Whites — Forts Des Moines and
Ridgely — Henry Lott Murders Indians — Scare at Clear Lake — The Outlaws in
1856 — Trouble at Smithland — Indians Become Surly — Abuse Settlers at Cherokee —
On the Little Sioux — At Peterson — Outrages Committed — Iowa Authorities Notified
— Major Williams' Expedition — Indians Reach Okoboji Lakes^And Commit Whole-
sale ^Murder — Four ^Vomen C!aptives Taken — Mrs. Sharp's Account — The Awful
Carnage — Indians Retreat to Heron Lake ' 47
CHAPTER IV.
THE SPRINGFIELD MASSACRE— 1857.
lirst Iniiniation of Trouble — Black Buffalo Warns George Wood — Warning Unheeded —
Morris Markham Discovers Spirit Lake Massacre— Notifies the Springfield Set-
tlement — Proposed Trip to the Lakes Abandoned — Woods Do Xot Believe Story —
X 'I'Ar.I.K OF COXTI-:\TS.
Couricis Sent to Fort Uiilgcly — ( ahiiis I!anu'a(U'il — Two Sliaiigc liijians Aniio -
And Tell Umpashota of Spirit Lake ^Murders— Ump.isliota Advises Against Burial
Party Going to Lakes — Eleven Able Bodied Jlen in Settleniont — Attack on Spring-
field — Names of the Warriors- Murder of William W^ood— His Conduct Criticised —
George Wood Killed— Attack on Tliomas Cabin -Redskins Repuls'd— Jareb Palmer's
Story of tlie Fight— Willie Thomas Killed- Stewart Family Killed At the WHieeler
Cabin — Total Losses — Part Played by the 'Springfield Indians 57
('iiAi'ri:i; \".
Fi.iciiT or TUK 1 ri:rii\KS-is.-,7.
'Die Indians JJejiart — Settlers Panic Stricken Consultation at 'J'liunias Cabin — l)<Tidcd
to Flee to Fort Dodge — A Terrible Journey — A Night in tlio Snow — Indian Alarms
— I'liglit from Wheokr Cabin — Deserted by "Doctor" Strong Cripples and Baby
Abandoned to 'I'licir Fate — Self Preservation Only Thought Refugees United—
Shiegley's Search for His Baby— At the Granger Cabin — Journey Continued— A
Sugar Diet — Refugees Meet \'olunteers- Safe at Last — Soldiers Arrive from Fort
Ridgely — Hardships of t!ic Tiii) l'ur>uit of the Indians — Pursuit Abandoned — In
the Indian Camp — The Alaiin -Burial of the Dead— Captain Bee -Sohliev; Re-
main — Snlisc.|iiiiil History of the Indians — Death of lukpaduta.. . tiit
ciiAr'i'Ki; \i.
RESETTI.KMFA T AM) (il!( I.WIZATION— ISftT-lSoO.
Early Day ( omlitions — Jackson Counly as I'lcnrh 'rcnilnry Sdld tu Spain — Rescdd
to France-Bought by I'nited States — A Part of Louisiana Territory — Missouri
— Michigan — Wisconsin — Iowa — No Man's Land — Minnesota Territory Formed — Jack-
son County a Part of Dakota County — Blue Earth — Brown- The County Created —
The Act — The Name— Hon. Henry Jackson — Settlers of 1857 — Towns of Jackson
and Odessa— Mail Route— Indian Alarms— A Petition— Settlers of 1858- Death of
James Townsend — James Middleson Killed— State Roads— Townsite Boomers —
Town of liclmont Founded- Incorporated— Its History- -Boundaries Surveyed—
County Organized — Indians Create Alarm 81
CHAI'TI'll; \ II.
Tin: \ii|;\A KCIAN SKI TI.KM KNT ls(;(l lS(;-2.
Travels of Anders Olson Slaabaken — He Brings a Norwegian Colony— Settlers of
1800— \\'liere They Located— Home Guard Formed— Captain W^est— Census of 1800
— Names of Inhabitants — Number of Families — Property Owned— Age and Birth-
place—Arrivals of 1801— The Slaabaken family— The Civil War— Nearly All the
Voters Enlist— Their Names— F'irst Religious Services- Sawmill Begun— First
Fo\n-l.h of July C<'lebration— Assessment of 18fll--The Property Owners — Their
Taxes-Assessment of 1S02 -Conditions in 1SG2— Isolation of the Settlers -Trad-
ing Points — Ignorance as to Indian ^Mode of M'arfare 0;>
CHAPT]-:!; \iii.
Till': r.KLMoNT MASSACKK— 1802.
Tlie Sioux War Its Magnit\ulc Humors of Trouble I'vca.-'i BclnicMil The Ccrman from
New ritn Decision to Build Stockades — Too Late — Fifty .Sissetons Raid Jackson
Couniy And Attack the Norwegians — Murders at Fohre Ibuue — Refuge in the
Cellar — Adventures cif the Folu'c l!ov — Ole I'olire Killed — Mrs. Jornevik a Heroine —
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xi
Her Death — Killing of Mikkel Slaabaken — Tenibl" Experience of Anders Slaa-
baken — Knud Midstad and Wife Murdered — ^Massacre of the Langeland Family — •
The Fight in Christiania — Indians Repulsed — Thirteen Whites Killed — List of
Killed and Wounded — Errors in Former Accounts — Alarm at Meeting House — Stam-
pede — Simon Olson's Heroic Deed — Refugees at Thomas Home — On to Estherville —
Relief Expedition — Burial of the Dead — The Monument — Jackon County Deserted —
Alarms on the Frontier 101
CHAPTER IX.
RECOX.^TRUCTION PERIOD— 18G21SG7.
Slaabi'kens Return to Belmont — Adventure in Prairie Fire — Two Deaths — White Raid-
ers — Indian Alarms — County Again Deserted — Events of 1 803— Permanent Settlers
Come in 1804— Their Adventures— First Birth— Flight— The Return— Wild Hogs-
Military Matters — Former Settlers Petition — Soldiers Come — Fort Bailey — Other
Posts — Confidence Partially Restored — Census of 1805 — Names of Inhabitants —
Immigration — Indians Attack Trappers — The Scare— County Reorganized— First
Election — Townships Created — Petersburg — Des Moines — Belmont— Minneota — Early
Homesteaders — School Districts — Taxes — Those Assessed — Crop Statistics — The
Land Grant— Its Eflect— Jackson Founded— Severe Winter— Starvation Period —
Fish and Milk Diet — Measures for Relief — Difficulties of Travel — Prices for Staples
—First Church— School Statistics— Taxes of 18G7— First Jurors— Products of 18G7...1U
CHAPTER X.
ERA OF DEVELOPJIEXT— 1868-1872.
Trapping Days — Statistics for 1808 — Assessed Values — Products — Wisconsin Organized
— Middletown Begins Government — Blizzards — Ole Sime and Archie Lee Perish —
Immigi-ation in 1870 — Census — Heron Lake, Round Lake and Delafield Organize —
Early Day Homesteaders — Trouble Over Name — School Conditions — Assessment 1870
— Products — District Court Established — Court House Bonds Defeated — Railroad
Rumors — Lively Times in 1871 — Pioneer Experiences — Organization of Christiania,
Enterprise and Weimer — First Railroad Comes — Heron Lake Village Founded —
Bountiful Crops — Hunter, Kimball. Alba and LaCrosse Townships Begin Govern-
ment — Victims of Blizzards in 1872 — Voters Prevent Diminution of County's Terri-
tory — Plans for Court House — Bonds Carry — Contributions — Building Erected 127
CHAPTER XI.
THE GRASSHOPPER SCOURGE— 1873-1877.
Calamitous Days — Ewington Township Organized — Record Breaking Blizzard — Experi-
ence of Anders R. Kilen — First Grasshopper Invasion — The Damage — Many Desti-
tute Settlers — Relief Measures — The Committees — Legislature Appropriates — Funds
Received — The Distribution — Free Seed Wheat — ^West Heron Lake, Rost and Sioux
Valley Organize — Total Crop Destruction in 1874 — Settlers Desert County — Grass-
hopper "Stories" — The Losses — Terrible Times — Rigid Economy — Governor Davis'
Appeal— Distribution of Cash and Food — Army Rations — Why Not Desert County?
— Free Seed Again — Acreage Sown in 1875 — Blizzard — Population — By Precincts —
Third Invasion — Southern Townships Escape — Damage by Rain — Grasshopper Con-
vention — Railroad Rumors — Bonds Voted — Partial Crop in 1870 — Discouraging
Prospects — Another Convention — Free Seed — Day of Fasting and Prayer — Slight
Damage in 1877 — Year of Jubilee— Crop Statistics— End of the Scourge 141
xii TAIILI'; OK ((iN'I'KXTS.
( llAI'TKi; Ml.
I'i;i ISPKKI il S TI.MKS- IS78-1S!U.
Xi'W I'^ni lio{i;iiis- Kcmwcil l.aiul (mmu'I hoiitlieni iliimesota Kailio;nl Extends — Rusli
of liiiiiiigrants — More K.iilro.ul I'.iiililing — Lakefielil Founded — Ruilroad War — Tlie
l,;i'^t (ira'islioppcis — Ctiisus of 1880 — Oitolicr litiz/.ard — A Stvcre Winlcr -Railways
llloikadod — Slioit of Provisions — Gieat Dcpfli of Snow — Tlie Floods Damage Re-
sulting — I1<'atli in Storm — Boom of 1884 — Railroad Lands on the Market — Pros-
perons Days — Tlic I. iS: M. N.- -Crop Statisties -Census of 188.")— First County Seat
Contest — "Brutus" Writes — Tl;.' Initi.il .Meeting— Petition Cinulated Coniniission-
ers Reject Pelilion — Blizzard of 1888 — Big Gain in Pn]iulatiiiM Denianil for Lands •
Abortive Plan to Divide Coimty — Cylone — P.ini- i.l ls!i:; Simoh.I ( mnity S<>at
Figlit--Tli<' New Law— Tlie Opening (!un — The Petition — (^luestion Submitted
Lakefield Builds Court House — Jackson \\ins — ^ Dte by Precincts .• . . . l.")7
cii.\i''i'i;i; .Mil.
cn!i!iv\ r j';\KNTs-isii.-) I'.iiii.
Census of 18!).") — laek^oii Soutliejii Kailway — Disastrous Wind Storm 'Iwu Deal lis
— Prosperous Kra — Population — Third Coniity Seat (oiilc-l .\luil Slin.;;iiii; (am
l)aign — Lakefield Ofiers Court House — Jackson Wins — ^'ote by Precincts -Election
Contested — Judge Quinn's Decision — Appeal to Supreme Court — Jail Building — In-
JMnctioii Proceedings — Contract Let — Building Completed — Disastrous Yeajr 1903 -
Heavy Rains— Death Dealing Tornado— The Killed — The Deluge — County Sub-
merged — New Court Mouse Agitation — Bonds Defeated — Mandamus Proceedings
— Census of 11)05 — By Precincts- -Length of Residence — Nationality — More . Court
House Legislation — Another County Scat Contest — Bitter Fight — Bribery and Cor-
ruption Charged — Canvassing for Signatures — \\ithdiawals — Revocations- E.vciting
Meeting of Commissioners — Petition Defeated — Tl'.e Xew Petition — Court House Lit-
igation — Governor Johnson Takes a Hand — Contract Let — Last County Seat Con-
test Ended — Court House Bonds Carry — Building Completed — Dedicated — Bounteous
Years 171
CHAPTEi; .\1\.
POLTTI CAL -1858-1882.
County Organized Coniniissioners Named — First Election Tliirly-lwo X'olers in I8(i0
— All for Lincoln — County Officers EUvted- Organization Discontiiuied- Legislative
Officers — Reorganization — Ditliculties Encountered — First Election — Those Elected —
Legislature Legalizes Action — Government Begun — First Convention — Elections of
18l)t), 18li7 and 1868— Contests in LSfiO— All Voters are' Republicans— DemocVats
Organize KIcctions of 1870 and 1S71 (irant Carries County — The Independents —
Get Few Oll'ices in 187.3 — Rejiublican in 1874— No Nominations iji 187.5--Hayes' Big
Majority — Elections of 1877. 1S78 and 1870 — Five Coniniissioners for County — Gar-
field Carries County- .S.veii Deiiionatic ^'otes in 1881- Election of 1882 187
CII.M'TKi; W.
I'lii.i ri('.\L— 18s:m!iio.
Democrats Organize — Election of 1881) lilaine Carries County IJig Vote in 1880— Ex-
citing Contests — Harrison Has Majority in 1888— Three County Tickets — Revolution
in 1800— The Alliance Party — Dominates Polities-Birth of Peoples Party— Fusion
- Honors Divided in 1802- Tfarrison"s Small Plur.ility Billcr Campaign of 1801-
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xiii
Free Silver Issue— EIccUoii of 1890— Itepublicans Win in 1S98— Large Vole of 1900
— McKinley Carries County— Primary Election Law— The First Primary— General
Election of J !)02— Death of Peoples Party— Election of 1904— Roosevelt's Popularity
—Working of the Primary— Party Lines Ignored in 190G— Effect of County Seat
Contest— Johnson for Governor— The 1908 Election— Taft the Choice— Summary 199
ClIAFTEK XVI.
JACKSON— 18.30-1809,
L(jcalion- Elevation — Nahiral llcanty — First" Whites Arrive — Springiield Founded — Re-
named .Jackson — Becomes (jounty Seat — Alexander Wood — Land Patents — First
])<-ed— Early Day Cabins— Saw .Mill— Jackson Platted— Ashley & Bailey— The
Name— Additions— The First Building- White's Store— George Chamberlin's Adver-
tising— Postoffiee Established— Its History— Buildings of 1807- Kimljall and Clark
—Historic Building— The Town in 1807— Arrivals of 1808— Joseph Thomas' Town-
site— Rivalry Between East and West Sides— Replatting— Legislative Action—
The Town in 1809— The Land Office- Its History— Big Trade. Tevritorx Kimball's
Business — An V.m\\ Directory — Stage Lines ^l-'i
CHArTEll X\II.
JACKSON— 1 870-1 91 0.
Prosperous X'iUage Develops — Improvements in 1870^Trade Territory Abridged — In
1872— The Grasshopper Days— Railroad Comes— lis Effect— Life Awakening Agency
— New Enterprises — Attempt to Incorporate — Results in Failure — Improvements in
1879— Census of 1880— Incorporation— F'irst Election— Village Officers. 1881-1909—
The License Issue — First Council ileeting— Early Financial Statement — On a Nor-
ma! Basis — Statistics— Directory of 1884 — Population in 188.5 — A Division Point —
Depot Jloved— Water Works System- Prosperity— Panic of 1893— Census of 189.5 —
A Prosperous Era. 1899-1902— Electric Liglits— "The Wet Years"— Again Pros-
perous
. "l-S.)
CHAl'TKi; Will.
JACKSON'S ENTERPRISES.
The Schools — First Teachers and Pupils — Tlie School House — First Financial Statement
— Second Building — An Independent District — The New School House — The Churches
— Methodist — Presl)yterian— Norwegian Lutheran— Catholic — (iernian Lutheran —
Episcopal — The Lodges — Masonic — Grand Army —Relief Corps — Workmen — Odd Fal-
lows — Modern Woodmen — Foresters — Knights of Pythias^The Banks — Brown Na-
tional — iMrst National — Jackson National — Fire Department — Early Day Depart-
ment — Agricultural Society 2:!o
CHAPTER XIX.
LAKEFIELD— 1879-1910.
its Central Lncatimi — Trade Territory — The Site — Jackson Center — Henry Knndson
F'onnds Town — Its Demise — A. R. Kilen Founds Lakefield — Platting — Additions —
Original Titles — "Bethania" — First Building — Early Business Houses — The Postoffiee
—Postmasters— Early Day Events— Directory of 1883— Of 1884- Depot Burns- Im-
jnovements — Population in 1887 — Petition for Incorporation — First Voters — Incor-
porated — License Question — Village Officers, 1887-1909 — Current Events— Fires —
xiv TAI51,K OF CONTENTS.
The Schools — First Teachers — School OITic-crs— The Churches Swclish I.tithcraii
Proshyterian — Methodist — Uerinan Kvangclical — Norwegian Lutheran — Baptist -
Catholic — The Lodges — Odd Fellows — Kebekas — Workmen — Modern Woodmen - -
Royal Neighbors — Maccabees — Masons— Eastern Star — The Banks— Jackson County
State— First National -I''
( llAI'TKi; w.
IIKi;i>.\ I.AKK ISTMlUll,
Location-Site Si'U'cted I'hittcd- Additions — First Inlialiilaiils Sniilh & Carroll -Find
Raw Prairie— Business Houses of 1871— The PostolTice— Postmasters— Progress in
1872— New Enterprises — Fifty Inhabitants— Big Trade Territory— Merchants Pros-
per — Directory of 1873— Grasshoppers Take Profits— Better Times- Raiload Build-
ing — Improvements in 1870— Census of 1880— The Tow Mill— Incorporation — Li-
cense Question -OtTiccrs. 1882-1909- Prosperous Decade— Big Business in 1882 -
Subsequent History— Fires— The Schools -The Indepemlent Dislriel Sdiool Houses
—The Churches — Slethodist-Catholic — Salem Lutheran- Norwegian Lutheran The
Lodges — The Banks— Farmers State Bank -First National Bank.. .2.")7
CHAPTEl! .\.\l.
ALPHA. WIl.DKi;. OKABENA, ETC.
Alpha — Wisconsin Station Irwin — First Business Houses — Renanicil .\lpha— Platted
—Additions— Boom Days— Incorporation— OtTiccrs 1899-1909— Population— Wilder—
■Station Established— The Name— Activity in 1885— College Founded -Town Starts
—First Business Men— Delay in Deeds— Platted— Current Events— Incorporation—
Petitioners- Population— Farmers State Bank — Okabena — Its Enterprises — The
Station — Postoflfice — First Store — Platted — Miloma — Prairie Jimction — Wrong Pre-
diction — Derivation of Name — Petersburg — Its History — Bergen — Des iloincs City
—Belmont— Round Lake— Eldora—Orr— Williamsburg— Brownsb\irg—Namsos— Som-
erset-Sioux \'alley— Loon Lake— Trcbon— Arlington— Karlin— Gold Leaf— Elm—
SpolTord 269
DKSCKII'IIN I..
Location Boundaries— Area -Surface — Township Klevalion.s .\ltiliide of \'illages —
Geologic I-'ormat ion— Warren Upham's Description— The Soil— Scientific .-Vnalysis -
Climate— Timber The Drainage Systems -Des Moines River— Elm Creek— .lack
C-cek— Okabena Creek— Little Sioii.x River— The Lakes -Their Size and Location—
Prmlucts— Manufactories— Transportation Facilities— Taxable Valuations By Pre-
cincts—Townships Compared— Land \'aliies— Advantage Over DaUotas and Canada
—Markets— Agricultural Conditions— Wanted. yUirc Populalion . .279
CIIAPTKi; .\.\11I.
THE PRESS.
.Nine Papers Founded -Five Now Published— Founding the Jackson Republic— First
Subscribers— The Salutatory— George C. Cliamlx-rlin— Burt Day Buys Paper- A. B.
Allen— Later Publishers— Heron Lake Guardian-Minnesota Citizen Later Lake-
field Standard— lis Publishers -Heron Lake Wave— Name Changed to News -Jack-
son County Pilot— Its History— Jackson County Times- John Woolstcncrofl Lake-
field Herald — Jackson County Argus— Jackson Tribune .289
TABLE OF CONTENTS. xv
CHAPTEK XXIV.
REMINISCENT.
Inkpaduta's Indians — Their Customs and Beliefs — The Delicious Pole Cat — Miss Gard-
ner's Experience — Trip to Slocuni's — Incident of 18.57 — The Prairie Fires — Terrors
of the Prairie — Loss of Life — The Editor Arrives — George Chamberlin's Advent —
Adventures in a Blizzard — As Remembered by a Child — Night in a Snow Bank — A
\\'edding Journey — Traveling Under Difficulties — Wild and Woolly Days — Muskrats
as Legal Tender — W. C. Logue's Story — In tlie Olden Days — Ole Anderson's Orange
— He is Handed a Lemon — Good Bye, Hoppergrass — Song of Triumph LTpon the De-
[larture of the Grasshoppers 29.5
CHAPTER XXV.
REMINISCENT (Continued).
Muskrats, Politics and Religion — An Interrupted Service — An Early Marriage — An
Industrious Officer — Troubles of a Justice — \\liolesale Marrying — Early Justice
Courts — A Wife as Jailor — "A Clodhopper" — A Youthful Correspondent — A Political
Deal — John Davies and the Crane — Early Day Mail Facilities — Indian Scares — Sand
Hill Cranes Pose as Indians — The Scare of 1876 — A Joke on Kimball — Why He
Cared for the Stock — Near Capture of the Youngers— Tom Mather Tells of It —
Rafting the Des Moines — Snow Boats — In Grasshopper Days — Governor Pillsbury
Visits the County — Swearing Off — And On — Race for a Farm — The Wrong Dose —
Game in Early Days — Signs of the Times 313
ILLUSTRATIONS
Mdiiiinn'iil 111 Inilians' \ i.1 iiii- I'loiitispiccc
.li«si-|ili Niinlas Xii'olU'l 2.'>
l)cs .\l<jiiu;s Uivor Si'Ciu'.s. . .'iT
Tin- Dcs Aloiiios at Jackson. 47
Miip ()l S|nin^ncld JSeLtlemtiit 01
"Lone TiPi;" 78
Some OKI Timers 87
.\ rioiiccr Home OS
Map of Norwegian Settlement.. 105
Old Kort Itelmont 113
Count IV Scenes '-•!
\.n-r liuil.linss of J. J. Egj;i 134
.Map of Jack.son County, 1874 141
.\ Sod Shanty * 141
The Andrew Monson Cabin 140
Pioneers of Hopper Days 140
Vac Simile Letter, (iovernor Pillslniry . . . .152
"Tlie Kivals"— Old Court Uouso— Lakefield
Cilv Mall * ^100
Cyclone of 1003 178
.lackson County Court House 187
Jack.'^on in 1882 213
.lacki^on Scenes 225
.lack>on's Cliurches 238
Main Street, Lakefield 245
South .Main Street, Lakefield 245
Lakclield llifjh School 248
.Mukinj; a County Ditch 24S
Laketield's Cliiuehes -52
Main Street. Heron Lake 257
IJeron Lake, Winter of lOOSOH 2.57
Heron Lake School Mouse 200
Destruction of Heron Lake's Old School
llotise 200
Heron Lake's Churches 204
Wilder Scenes 272
Scene on Heron Lake 270
Some Country Churches 304
Captain Jareli Palmer 333
Welch .\shley 342
Thomas ,1. Knox 354
Henry Knudson and Family 305
George R. >loore 370
Alexander KIddos
.■\nders 1!. Kilcn
.Tolin W. Cowiii};
Paul II. I'crgc. . .
Henrv O. Andersim
15. P." St. John
James C. Caldwell
Dr. Iver S. Bensm;
(Charles M. Oa-ie
fieorge lichrenfcld
Dr. Anton J. Moc
Jolin S. Woolstcncroft ... .
J. If. Putman
Jackson County Officers...
Menzo L. Asliley
nenjamin W. Ashley
H. Henry Hu-ihes
Ravmond Hartoscli
John T. Smith
Charles Winzer
Frederick A. Coolcy
Carl S. Eastwood
A. A. Fosness ...
Louis F. Lammer~
Julius F. Liepold
Bruno Poppitz .
Harry 51. Burnliani
John L. Klnp
Robert C. Mnir
Frank C. Albert us
F. E. Malrhow
William C. Malchow
Samuel L. Kank
Louis Kiesel
\rthur P. Rose. .
Alton B. Clieadle
Dr. Herbert L. Arzt
Home of Martin A. Foss. .
Henry W. \'oehl.
■Tohn llauniann
Fritz Sclnildt
Family of Kllinj; KInc>
Southwestern Minuesnlii
Home of T. J. Knox. .
Home of P. H. Hcrjie
Home of
Home of
Home of
Hospital
:;sij
.:i<i4
.40.»
.413
.424
4:!2
. .4411
448
150
104
.471
...47S
...480
...407
...505
...505
...505
. . . 505
...513
...513
513
.->I3
520
.520
,520
.520
. . ..528
.528
....528
.528
....535
....535
535
. ....535
...542
542
.-.42
.548
550
5o;i
503
.'.00
5(i!l
578
578
BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX
Aas, Ole
Aekerman, I^'Oiiard
Adams, William . . .
Ahrens, Fred S. C. .
Page.
. . .414
. . .535
. . . 560
...438
Ahrens, Henry W 507
Albert, John A 585
Albertson, Albert 4G7
Albertiis, Frank G 542
Aldrich, Bert 5S4
Alexander, Frederick W 583
Allen, Ethan W 516
Allen, William 574
Allers. Edward F 434
Allers, Fred 410
Aller.s. John H 566
Ambrose, Alfred 566
Ambrcse, John 502
Amundson, Ole 505
Anderson, Adolph 470
Anderson. Charles 419
Anderson, Oustav A 469
Anderson, Hans 465
Anderson, Henry G 424
Anderson, John A 504
Anderson, John M 474
Anderson, Ole 337
Anderson. Peter 528
Appel, Frank J 412
Arndt. Martin 538
Arnold, Anthony A 405
Arnold, Herman J 467
Arntson, Olof . . 568
Arp. J. B 436
Arzt, Dr. Herbert E 542
Ashley, Benjamin W 351
Ashley. Jesse F 382
Ashley, Leonard F 35S
Ashlev, Louis W 460
Ashley. Mark D 370
Ashlev, Menzo L 345
Ashley. Otis M 509
Ashley, Welch 342
Anteii. William F. , 564
Ayery. Virgil W. . .427
Bailey, Frank E 349
Bailey, Major Hiram S 339
Baker, William H 527
Baldwin, John 375
Bargfrede, John Diedrich 584
Barnett, John 453
Bartosch, Raymond 475
Bauchle, Adam 429
Bauer, Christ 450
Page.
Bauman, Matthias 580
Tiaumann, John 563
Behrenfeld, George 464
Behrens, John C 554
Benson, Andrew 544
Benson, Dr. Iver S 448
Benson, Gust 457
Benson, John W 353
Berge, Paul H 413
Berkness, Syvert H 384.
Berreaii, Frederick H 433
Besser, John 383
Beste, Henry ... - , .560
Bezdicek, Vincent 511
Bjornstad, Elias T. . .425
Boehl, Edward A .411
Bond, Harry L 547
Borsgard, John 434
Borsgard. Peter 403
Brakke, John P 359
Britsch, Louis J 407
Brodin, Carl 435
Brown, Frank H 573
Brown, John K 364
Brown. Oliver 'W 454
Buclimann, William (' 529
Burnham, Harry M. . .4.53
Burrcson. Peter .497
Burrill, Dr. C. L .528
Bushnell, Sherrill .413
Butler, Vernon E .441
Cabot. John L . .417
Caldwell, James C .4411
Callison, W. L. . .40!
Capelle. AValter 583
Carlestroin. William 3SS
Carlson, Andrew .470
Carr, William E .576
Cass. Stephen G ...554
Chamberlin, George ( .340
Chalupnik, John A.. .555
Chalupnik, Joseph J. 577
Cheadle. Alton B 484
Christiansen, George 566
Christie. Gustave J 550
CTiristoffers, Seibert 562
Cedarberg. Elias ... 456
Conner. Thomas J 575
Cook, Alfred H.' 569
Cooley, Frederick A 513
Cordes. Anton 512
Cowing, John W 404
" Crawford, David 414
BIOOltAlMllCATi INDEX.
Crawley. Jolin S
I'lilliortson, H. S
I'liniiinjilmni, Oorge B.
Page.
...585
. . .402
...546
Dalil, Chris 172
Dalil, Samuel 44S
J)alziel, .Uimes M 414
Dav. Frank E 511
l)ie"son. Obert Elmer 430
Dillev, Peter 451)
l).)st."il. Leo J 4fi8
Drews. William F 530
Diinker, .Jolm 480
nniilop. William C 4(18
Dunn, .Marshal I! :itiO
Eastwood, Carl S 421
Kdel. .Joseph 571
Edel, Thomas 582
Ediin, John C 521
Kgge, John J., Jr 502
Egge. John P 511
Egge, Tollef .1 4!):1
Eggestein, William 442
Ellofson, John E 551
Elness, Aleck F 50n
Elness, Edward r>2fl
Elness. O. E .' 530
Klvernm, Peter P • 390
Engel, John 415
Engen, Ole 487
Erpestad, Mieliael H 398
Esser, Ferdinand 578
Faber, Frederiek B '>-^-
Fader. Edson . .3iil
Fest. .Mathins 520
Fiala. Frank 425
Fiddes, Alexander 380
Fiddes. Alexander T 4.58
Flatgard, O. T 500
Forman, John R 5(i9
Fo.sness, A. A 401
Foss, h. A 380
Foss, Martin A 548
Foss, Oscar 440
F'randrnp. Henry 514
Frantsen, Carl 383
Frederickson, Bcndick 407
Frederickson, Fred 553
Frederickson, John 308
Frederickson. Samuel 430
Freemire. William E ' 393
Freer, Newton 5.W
l-'reer. Peter E 400
Freer. Waller S 402
Freking. August 431
I'ritscher. .loseph E 500
Froderniann. Herman 454
Frost, Moses 1 38l>
Frost, Nathaniel 330
Fuglesteen. Theodore 550
Gage, Charles M l''""'
Hage, Ernest A 4nr>
fiage, John G 400
<!age. Theodore E 458
Page.
Ocissel, Charles 572
Cerlaeh, A. Frank 406
tierlaeh, .Michael J 397
(Jiibert, Albert H 397
(lilbert, Gilbert H 371
( iilbert. Hogan 338
(Jillespie. H. B .' 455
(iillie. Hans 372
Gogolinski, Joe 551
(;ohr. Albert 484
(Jolitko. Joseph F 525
Goodwin. Thomas 340
Grady, John G 438
( irave. Barney 58:1
Graves, .Joseph H 541
( ireenwood. Clarence W 398
(Irein, .John 530
Grinager. Thomas H 449
Gruhlke, Albert A 383
(Jruhlke, Robert A 303
(Jruldke. William U 363
(•runst. John 542
Gnritz. Herman 548
Guritz, John . . 579
llaljorman, Ferdinand K 382
Haberm;ui. .John li 353
Hater. Peter 477
llagerson. John 442
llamlon, William 453
Hansen. Peter (Jackson) 437
Hansen. Peter (Wisconsin) 485
Hanson. Jonas 505
Hanson. Nels 469
Hanson. Otto 371
Hanson. Peter T 500
Harm, .John 444
1 larstad. Ole .Severson , . .373
Harstad. S. 393
llartnian, l>ed W. G 553
Hartncck. Max 5.58
1 lasbargen, Charles 508
llasbargcn, Daniel R 559
llassing. Frank J... 524
llassing. Henrv 564
llayostck. Joseph 530
llecht. August 473
Hecht. Charles 561
Hcidlel.augh. S. E 519
llelvig. Lars 574
ll-mming. Chris L 570
Ibwett. IMward F 464
Holland. John L 640
Holland. John f) SIO
llofslad. Martin B 638
llokanson. F. (i 428
Hidden. Peler P 344
Holm. Jess A 635
llolsten. Marlin 396
llcdston. Nels 489
Hoiivel. Henry J 603
Hovelsrud. John 553
Hughes. H. Henry 409
llumphrcv. Charles M 472
Hunt. William 559
Hunter, .James W 344
Husbv, Gunder A 370
BIOGRArnTCAL INDEX.
Page.
Husby, Mark 460
Hussong, Conrad 577
Iverson, Ole 476
Jacknian, Charles F 463
JacUiiian, Merton F 518
Jackson, Henry Walter 472
Jackson, Jacob C 392
Jacobsen, Peter 576
Jacobsen, Peter C 567
Jacobsou, John 492
James, Dr. Meredith J 565
Jarmuth, Henry 427
Jariiuitb, William H 476
Jensen, Christ 469
Jensen, Christen 515
Jensen, Jens 572
Jepson, Peter 552
Johnson. Abraham 369
Johnson', A. E 398
Johnson, Albert J 565
Johnson, Ben H 344
Johnson, H. 482
Johnson, J. C 356
Johnson, James C 580
Johnson, Jens J 493
Johnson, Louis L 535
Johnson, Jv'els A 485
Johnson, William 429
Juvland, Gjormuiid T 501
Kablo, Henry 585
Kable, Thomas 545
Katus, John 452
Kellam, Dr. Charles R. J 378
Kephart, Bert 570
Kidney, Fred W 530
Kielblock, August 540
Kiesel, Louis 466
Kilen, Anders R 394
Kilen, Erick 361
Kimball, Wilbur S 341
King, John L 528
King, William V 339
King, Willie P 400
Klein, Peter 573
Klindt, Ferdinand 528
Knox, John Cowing 431
Kno.x, Thomas J 354
Knudson, Henry 365
Knutl], Claus 541
Knutson, Albert S 399
Koehn, Ferdinand 459
Koep, Herman H 549
Koep, P. F 517
Kopeste, Frank 582
Koster, John P 473
Krai, John V 481
Krumwiede, Louis 543
Kuhlman, Martin 508
Kuhnau, Cierhard 545
Kuhnau, Rudolph 517
Kulseth, Thomas 533
Kummeth, L 412
Laramers, Louis F. 395
Page.
Larson, August , 573
Larson, John 582
Larson, John S 408
Larson, Ole L 408
Larson, Oscar A 503
Lee, Brownell H 348
Lee, Francis 460
Lee, Henry H 375
Lee, Mart'in H 500
Lev, Albert A 451
Lev, Frank M 559
Lewis, Edward J 569
Libra, Leonard A 459
Liepold, Joh)i G 531.
I^iepold, Julius F 374
Lindberg, Christian E 476
Livengood, Rollen W 536
Loken, Andrew 431
Ludvigsen, Christ 518
Ludvigsen, Erie 519
Lueneburg, John C 399
Lueneburg, Robert H 381
Luft, Conrad W 565
Madden, Maurice 578
Madden, Thomas 501
Madsen, Peter 407
Magyar, John 561
Makovika, Joseph V 483
Malchow, Charles 347
Malchow, F. E 535
Malchow, William G 499
.Mansfield, John A 497
Marey, Osro C 578
.Matousek, Father Rudolph 568
.Matteson, Benjamin 450
Matuska, Frank A 544
Mayer, Charles 432
McGlin, John 470
McGlin. Michael 512
McKellar. Peter D 443
McMartin, John 465
McNab, Duncan 3.52
McQuillin. William A 537
Melville, Andrew H 552
Meyer, Charles H 449
Mever, Fred H 581
Mil'brath, Edward 532
Milbrath. Ferdinand 491
Miller, Charles 444
Miller, Henry M 440
Miller, John' W 391
Miller, Michael 377
Miller, Mike J .523
Mittelstadt, Robert 303
Moe, Dr. Anton J 471
Moe, S. J 373
Molden, Paul 531
Molkentliin, Gustav H 515
Montee, M. P 580
Moore, George R 370
Morrison, George E .526
Moses, .James B 388
Motl, Frank 418
Muir, Robert C 404
Muir. William T 394
r.ior;T7.\riii( AL im)i;\.
Mii/.ikiir, Frank A 41i>
Miizikiir, Joseph T 48U
Alyrvoia, Ijiis oiti
Niivara, Jolm A. 533
Nejedly, Karl 481
Nelson, George E 3S7
Nelson, Ilugbcrt J 482
Nelson, J. P 54a
Nelson, Ole 374
Nelson, lV(er 434
Neslrn.l, Adolpli J 43'J
Nestniil, Jjolin 371
Nielsen, Matliias 438
Niemann, Carl 5-5
Nordberg, Ulc M 575
Nourse, Joseph II .365
I I'lJonnell, John G 457
Olsen, Lemek 470
Olsen, Tarje K 4<JU
UUen, Thomas 40U
UUon, Andrew C 343
Olson, Kdward E 500
Ulsoii. John M 387
Olson', Ole J 4'.I5
Olson, Ole R 5G5
Olson, Peler A 351
Olson, IVter T -"'14
Olson, Simon '■'■'•^
Olson, Tollef 544
0]iperud, Anders 307
I'addock, (Icorge 15. 420
I'ago, Kdward (i 482
rainier, Captain Jarelj 333
I'almer, .lames E 337
Patterson, Jesse A.. .307
Panlson, Henry .572
Panlson, Paul II 410
Pearson, Ernest E.... 54!)
I'ederson, Anton ... 400
Perry, Charles E 478
Peter. William 4;M
Peters, Kmil 5r)4
Peters, ll.-rman II. .. 43li
IVtcrsen, l.aiirilz P.. 445
Peter.son. .Mliert 540
Peterson. Andrew 4!)2
Peterson. Charlie 533
Peterson, Jolm 513
I'ietsch. Onido E 543
I'igman. Waller L. . 403
Plagnian, I'enliniind 538
PohhnaM. Angnst ... 5(18
Pohlman. Carl W... 422
Pohlman. Henry F. 534
Pdhlmaii. Herman . . 451
i'olilman. William 501
Pope. I'rank L 5-17
Poppitz. Itrnno 428
I'ortmaiin, Dr. William C 474
I'ost. Harm 423
I'resiott, Jesse 1' 370
I'ril.vl. I'r.Mik J 5(17
Piil.'vl. .lo-<pli .1 IT'.i
Prokes, Joseph N .
Piilver, U. W
Putman, J. M
Page.
...480
...388
. . .480
(^iialey. .lolin .... .537
Quail," .Martin 681
Qninhy, Jens 604
Kaaseh. John V 427
Hank. Samuel I. 4.">0
Keadle. It.irl.ara 447
i;.e, John 11........ .•IS.'i
Keed. Isaae C. . .". .487
Reeves, .lohn L .503
Rehnelt, Stephen 510
Reimers, I'red 453
Riee. E 522
Ridgewav. William F 369
Rieken. "Claus E 472
Riley. Captain l>anicl L 423
Roberts, Dr. Osear E .548
Robertson, R. S 422
Robson. Henry W 415
Roe, Anders 342
Rossow. Car! F 389
Rossow. lleiirv 43'.l
Rost. Charles" W 405
Rost. .James R 4!13
Kiie. Ilaleck K 372
Kuc, lliiam C 3!)7
Kiissell. I'erry L 510
Ru.ssell, Thomas J 488
.^aathofT. Il.-nry
Saalhoir. SiebtMid II.
St. John. Aiulre M. .
St. John. Heiiona P.
Salin, John .\
Sander. I". II
Sandon. Charles II. .
.•^awyer. Kreil 1)
Sawyer, (ieoige 11. .
Sawyer. John M. . . .
Silieppmann, .\iigiist
Sihlapkolil. Charles
Si-hniidt. Henry . . . .
Si'hnapp. .lohn 1).
48;?
537
457
432
.".83
-.4 1
.341
405
.t'.ll
■►10
522
502
. .520
. 5.-.8
Silineiiler. William (1 435
Sehoelleriiian. Frederiek W 5."i5
Sehoewe. Rudolph 502
Sehroeder, A. M .403
Sehroeder, Theodore 475
Sehroeder. William .1. C 548
Sehroeder. William M. K 512
S<hiild(. Fiilz . 503
Sehiiltz. Henry 4.5."i
Seluimaeher. Kdw:.rd 4S0
Sehnniaeher. Theodore E 3!l|
Seluimaeher. William .381
Sehwager. .Jurgen 402
Seleen. Fr.'d .1 38.'>
Serum. Andrew C 301
Sether, Hans C 340
Severson, Charlie 547
Shay, James P 645
shearer, Samiul W. ...507
BIOGRAPIITCAL INDEX.
XXI
Page.
Shudalil, Herman 576
Shumaelier, Ern.st 476
Sievert, Frank 545
Skaliekv, Emil J 4(i3
Skalskv. Frank 571
Skinrud, Hans 380
Snialley. Isiali L 571
Smith," Edwin 507
Smith, George H 443
Smith, John 440
Smith. John J 400
Smith. .Tohn T 3.50
Smitli. Morton W 517
SpafTord. John A 4fl7
Sparks. Artlinr J 447
Stahl, Hans 540
Stall, Hans M 390
Stall, Henrv A 302
Stall. Martin 426
Stall, Thomas H 505
StefTen, Henry '. .478
Steiner. John L 531
Stenzel. Clement 504
Stenzel, Frank J 380
Steward, Lerov D 567
StofTerahn. Frank 581
Stone, Henry P 411
Streator. Edwin 570
Strom, Herman L 446
Strong, Alhert H 356
Struck, Henry 575
Stude, Christ' 460
Stride, Henry 463
Stude, Lewis 465
Stuermer. Reinhold 570
Stumpf . Lorenz 451
Sullivan, Atex 523
Sullivan, .Terry 488
Rwenson, Andrew H 418
Swenson, Carl J 557
S wenson, John O 401
Swenson, Olof 435
Tallman, Augustus 532
Tank, Herman N 427
Teig. Carl 558
Teig. Edward 585
Teig, 0. M 579
Teigen. Anton 303
Teigen, Lars 357
TerHaar, Henrv 442
Thielvoldt, Henry 384
Thomas, James B 335
Thomas, Joseph 336
Thomas, Joseph E 378
Thomson, John B 462
Thoreson, Ole 560
Thoreson, Tilbert 539
Tollefson, Ben J 410
Tolleff^on, Hans 352
Toiider, Marius 477
Tnrd-en. .John 565
Tord?en. Peter 419
Page.
Torilsen. William ..: 480
Tramm. Albert F 576
Trondson, Trond 362
Trosin, Emil 522
'I'rosin. Frederick W 557
Tusa. John 572
Uden. Henry W 500
Ukosick, .lo^eph 443
rptagraflt. Jolin ^ 445
Vacek, .Joseph 525
Vaeura, Edward F 434
\'acura, .Tames 430
\"agt. Otto 574
\'algamore, Henry 1 527
Vanduzeo. Bradford F 524
Vavricbck. Anton 582
Voehl, Adam 444
Voelil. Henrv W , .556
Vogt, Piter'j 361
Von Behren, Henry 514
Wade, Robert H 358
\\';ulswortli. Isaac 562
Wagner, Michael 474
Wa'anild, Ole J 421
Wallace, -John 1 416
Ward. Albert W 437
Washburn. Charles H 510
Watland. Alfred 520
Wazlahowsky, Frank 480
Weaner. Reinhold C 584
Weis, Nick W 578
Wendelsdorf, John C 539
Weppler. Balser 584
Werner. August 447
\Vbisne\ . ilike 534
Wicbener. Claus 494
Wiese, Gustav 520
Wiser, (J. E 485
Wilev, Albert 401
Willford. Pert 533
Winzer, Charles 348
Withers. Charles W 501
Withers. George 390
Wold. Dr. W. W 467
Wolff. Charles F 452
Wood, Clark A 355
Wood. George H 509
Wood. Jonah H 377
Wood. William 335
Woolstencroft, John S 478
Worshek. Wesley 479
Wrede, William 552
\ arns. Gf orge B 426
Veadicke, Herman J 422
Yonngren. Carl 567
Zenor. Leland L 521
Zinser. Leonard F 550
HISTORY OF
Jackson County
MINNESOTA
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
MTOR, LEN«X '
TH.DEN fOUNO»T
JOSEPH NICOLAS NICOLLET
The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of Jackson County.
CHAPTER I.
ABORIGINAL DAYS— 1834-1855.
IT WAS ouly a fuw hundred years ago
that Christopher Columbus discover-
ed America. That was a modern -
event in the history of the world — and
Jackson county — according to the meas-
urements of time employed by the archae-
ologists and geologists. We can, in ima-
gery, go back to that time and let our
fancy tell us what the Jacl<son county of
th.qt day was like. Its topography was
practically the same as we find it today.
There were the same broad, rolling prai-
ries, stretching as far as the eye might
reach, presenting in summer a perfect
paradise of verdure, with its variegated
hues of flowers and vegetation ; in winter
a di-eary and snow-mantled desert. The
rivers and creeks flowed in the same
courses as now ; tlie lakes occupied the
same banks.
But to get at tlie beginning of the his-
tory of .Tackson county we must consider
events that antedate the discovery of
America by periods of time measured in
eons — events which the most vivid imagi-
nation cannot conceive, events which were
never witnessed by jnortal eye. We are
informed that ages before man was made
our earth was a mass of molten, seething
fire; that in time this huge ball of fire
cooled and the earth's crust was formed.
This transformation occurred, so geolo-
gists estimate, 100,000,000 or more years
ago during the Archean or Beginning era,
viiiieh extended over a period of time
roughly estimated at 50,000,000 or more
years. The early part of this period is
termed Azoic, from the absence of any evi-
dence that the earth or the sea had eitlier
plant or animal life. Following this came
tlie Paleozoic time, covering a period of
something like 30,000,000 years, an era
cliaracterized by ancient types of life, un-
Lnown today.
The next period of time is known as the
Mesozoic time, covering the comparatively
shoi-t period of 9,000,000 years. Our
county was laud area during the greater
part of this time. The floras and faunas
of this age were gradually changing from
their primitive and ancient character of
the Paleozoic time, but had not yet at-
tained the comparatively modern forms of
tb.e succeeding era. In late Mesozoic
days the greater part of Minnesota was
again depressed beneath the sea, as it had
))een in ages past.
The Cenozoic time, some 3,000,000
}ears in length, followed, during which
that part of the earth's surface now-
known as ^Minnesota was lifted from the
sea. and it has ever since remained above
the water. During this time there came
into existence the present types of life.
26
IIISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
replacing those of tlie earl}- periods. Man
was created, dispersed over tlie eartii, and
developed into the several colors and
races.
Most wonderful and most recent of the
wonders occurring in the making of our
earth was the Ice age, which began some
7.5,000 or 100,000 years ago and ceased
onlv from G,000 to 10,000 years ago. Prior
to the beginning of this time the earth
had been uniformly warm or temperate,
but about the time mentioned the north-
ern lialf .'if Xorth .Viiierica and northern
Europe became enveloped witli thick
sheets of snow and ice, probably caused
by the uplifting of the land (the surface
wa.« then from 2,000 to 3,000 feet higlier
tlian now) into extensive plateaus, which
received snowfall throughout the year.
The lower latitudes retained the temper-
ale climate, thus permitting the plant and
animal life to survive until the melting of
the ice sheets again permitted the occu-
)>ancy of the northern latitudes. Under
the weight of tlie vast glaciers the land
sank to its present level, the surface was
ground down and evened off and made
juactieally as we find it today. Witli the
sinking of the land came the rapid melt-
ing of the glaciers, though with numerous
pauses and probably slight readvances.
During these millions of years many
interesting things happened in Jackson
county. From a part of the seething,
molten mass that composed the earth dur-
ing the millions of years about wliicli even
the geologist dare not venture a guess it
became a part of the earth's surface in the
process of cooling. Thereafter it was suc-
cessively covered with the waters of the
sea, was raised from the depths to a high
altitude, and was crushed back by vhe
weight of the vast ice sheets. During
these various periods its topngrapliical fea-
tures were formed, many changes resulting
before nature had tliem fashioned to lier
liking. Itidges and hills were formed by
llie action of the ice; depressions were left
in which are now lakes; the water from
the melting ice sought avenues of escape
and formed the I'ivers and creeks; soils,
KK-ks and minerals were spread over the
surface; plant and animal life came into
existence.
AVhen Jackson county was first inhabi-
ted by tlie human species is unknown.
.\i-(liaeiilo<.'ists cannot even hazard a guess
wlieu the .Vmerican continent was first
inbaliitcd. There has been discovered
evidence that man lived upim North .Vm-
erican soil during the decline and closing
scenes of the Ice age,' some 6,000 to 10,-
000 years ago, and jirohably had done so
for a nuii-h longer period. Concerning the
original peopling of North America,
Warren Upliani. A. ]\r.. D. Sc, in Minne-
sota in Throe Centuries, says:
Till' original ppoplinj; of America appears to
lii^vc taken place far longer ago liy migration
hum nortlica^tcMi .\y\n dnring (lie early
(^•iiatcrnary of (tairkiaii epoch of general up-
lift of northern region-- which inimeiliately
)ireceile<l the Ice age. and which conlinneii
through the early an.l prohahly the greater
part of that age. Then land nndonbtedly ex-
tended across the present area of IJering sea.
During Ozarkian time and the long early
part of the Olacial perioil. wandering tribes,
migrating for better food supplies or to es-
I'.ipe from enemies, could have crossed on land
from Asia to Alaska, and i-onhl advance south
to Patagonia and Tierra del I'"uego. occupying
iill the ground (excepting the ice covered
area) that is now, or was in pre-Columbian
limes, I lie home of the .\merican race. It is
not improbable, too, that anotlier line of very
ancient migration, in the same early Pleisto-
cene or Quaternary time, passed from western
JCnrope by the Faroe islands. Iceland, and
lireeidand. to our continent.
Winn civilized man first came to llie
new world he found it peojiled with a
savage race which he called Indians, 'i'iiey
had no knowledge of their own ancestry
nor of any peoples who may liave preceded
them. Whether or nut this race supplanted
one of a higher civilization is a ijuestion up-
n'races of man's iir*'s(-n<'e durlnp this period
ha\'<- been fnund In a flood plain of Ihe Mlssls-
.slppl river at I.lttle Falls. Minnesota, and in
other parts of the United States.
HISTORY OF JxiCKSON COUNTY.
27
on which archaeologists disagree.- The only
sources of information available concern-
ino' the earlv inhabitants are the imple-
nicnts of warfare and domestic nse tliey
made, found in burial places and elsewhere
in the land. The jMississippi valley is pro-
lific in mounds — the burial places of these-
ancient people.s — many having been found
and excavated in Minnesota. Scattered
through the Des Moines valley and around
the lakes of the vicinity have been found
manv of these interesting works of pre-
historic days.
At least one such mound in Jackson
county has been excavated. In 18T1 a solid
stone ball, about two inches in diame-
ter, made round liy primitive tools, was
pldwed out of the ground on the farm of
ilr. Hans Chestcrson, a short distance
west of .Tackson. A mound in tlic vi-
cinity was excavated by Jackson people
two years later. The mound was semicir-
cu.lar and several feet high, the outer line
of the embankment l)eing broken in sev-
eral places. In one of the larger mounds
a part of a man's leg bone was found. The
excavation was not pursued extensively
and nothing else of interest was un-
earthed.^
While we have little knowledge of the
very early peoples who inhabited our state,
from the middle of the seventeenth cen-
tury, when white men first came to the
northwest, we can trace the history quite
accurately.
The two principal tribes that inhabited
-"It wa.s formerly thought bj' many archaeolo-
gists, twenty-five to fifty years ago. that the
mounds of the Ohio and Mississippi valleys
were built by a prehistoric people, distinct from
the IndiatiS and further advanced in agricul-
ture and the arts of civilization. To that an-
cient people the name of Mound Builders was
given, and if was supposed that they were
driven southward into Mexico by incursions of
the Indian tribes that v/ere found in our coun-
try at the first coming of w'hite men. This
view, however, has been generally given up.
The researches of Powell and other specialists,
including Winchell and Brower in Minnesota,
have well referred the building of the mounds
to the ancestors of the present Indians." —
Warren Upham in Minnesota in Three Centur-
ies.
^Jackson Republic, August 30, 1S73.
]\Iinnesota from tlie time of our first
knowledge of the country, until they were
su^jplanted by white men, and whose
hunting grounds lung included all this
area, until ceded by treaties, were the
jib ways, ranging through the northern
forest region, and the Sioux or Dakotas,
who originally inhabited the southern and
western prairie portions of the state.
Bands from four other tribes of Indian
2)eoples have temporarily lived in the state,
these being the liurons, Ottaw-as, Winne-
bagos and Crees.
The Sioux tribe, which chiefly concerns
us, came originally from the Atlantic
coast, in Virginia and the Carolinas. Sev-
eral centuries before the discovery of Am-
erica they migrated from that eastern
country, by way of the Ohio river, and
eventually located on the prairies west of
the Mississippi river. The name of this
nation is a contraction of Nadouessis or
Nadouesioux, which is the name used for
the tribe by the very early explorers, and
which was given to these people by the
Ojibways and other Algonquins. The or-
iginal name is a term of hatred, meaning
snakes or enemies. Naturally the Sioux
disliked this name, and they called them-
selves, collectively, Dakotas, which means
confederates or allies.
When knowledge was first gained of the
Sioux or Dakota Indians there were three
great triljal divisions, namely, the Isantis,
residing about the headwaters of the Mis-
sissippi; the Yanl^tons, who occupied the
region north of the Minnesota river; and
the Titonwans, who had their hunting
grounds we.st of tlie I'anktons.
When white men began making homes
in this frontier country they gained more
definite knowledge of the natives than had
been secured by the Infrequent explorers.
We, being chiefly interested in that branch
of the Sioux nation which partially inhab-
ited and wholly claimed the southern
28
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
part of the state, are fortunate that defi-
nite and reliable information of these
bands was seeured and has been preserved.
General II. II. Sibley, who was an authori-
ty on Indian affairs because of his inti-
mate relations witli tlie natives in his ca-
pacity a£ head trader for one of the big
fur companies, has described the Indian
Ijauds of this soetion as lie found them in
1834.
The M'daywakantons, or People of the
Leaf, comprised seven bands who could
bring into the field about six hundred
warriors. Their summer residences were
in villages, the lodges being built of elm
bark upon a frame work of poles. These
villages were situated at Wal)asha Trairie,
where the city of Winona now stands;
at Red Wing and Kaposia, on the Mis-
sissippi river; on the lower Jlinnesota,
below Sliakopco, where there were tliree
Itands; and on lake Calhoun, near Minne-
apolis. The Wahpakootas, or People of
the Shot Leaf, were in villages on Cannon
lake, a short distance from the present
city of Faribault, and a few other points,
and tliey numbered about one luindrcd
fifty warriors. The lower Wahpatons
were located at Little Rapids, Sand Prai-
rie and on the banks of the ^Minnesota not
far from Belle Plaiue. The lower Sis-
setons occupied the regions around Tra-
verse des Siou.x (near St. Peter), Swan
lake and the Cottonwood river, their pos-
sessions extending to tlie Coteau dcs Prai-
rwvs of extreme southwestern Jlinnesota. It
was this branch of the Sioux which claim-
ed jurisdiction over and title to the prw--
cnt day Jackson county, although they
did not have their permanent homes here.
The upper Walipaton tribe had its villages
on the shores of the Lac qui Parle. The
ujippr Sissetons were on Big Stone lake
and Lake Traverse.
These tribes also claimed a generou.'?
part of northern Iowa and portions of
South Dakota. It was never entirely clear
by what right the Sioux claimed this part
of Iowa or even the extreme southwestern
pari (ii .Minnesota. They had never made
jiermanent location thereon, and, indeed,
tlie only occasions when they had visited
these districts were at the times of their
excursions against the Sacs and Foxes of
the upper Des Moines, or when they were
in search of buffalo in that region or about
lake Shetek.* Their muniments of title
were vague and imperfect. After having
been driven from the country east of the
ilississippi l)y the Chippewas, they had
crossed to the west bank and driven a band
of Iowa Indians from the countrj- about
Fort SncUing and established themselves
along the 5Iissis.sippi and ^linnesota riv-
ers.
In addition to the tribes of the Sioux
nation mentioned above as inhabiting and
ilaiming southern Minnesota was another
small, outlawed band of Sisseton Sioux
ancestry, under the leadership of Inkpa-
duta, with whom we .«hall become well ac-
quainted before this history closes. Ink-
paduta and his band occasionally visited
souHnveslern Minnesota, his favorite
haunts during these visits being the Des
Moines river country and the country
about the Okoboji lakes. They were out-
laws from the Sioux, were not partici-
liants in any treaty, and had no rights of
I'osscssion to laiul in any part of the
country more than a pack of wandering,
ravenous wolves might have to the same
land. The band had no permanent abid-
ing place or home, but roamed over north-
we.-(ern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota
from the present location of Des Moines,
Iowa, to that of Redwood Falls, ^[inno-
sota,
.\t the time of the earliest seltloment of
Iowa and Minnesota this band was under
tlie leadership of Sidoniinadota, a Sis.'^e-
'W.irron Upham In Minncsntn in Three Cen-
turies.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
29
ton Sioux. Sidomiuadota was known far
and wide for his audacity, bravery and dis-
regard of the restraints of the wliite
man's law and the rights of the Indians.
Tills reputation caused the discontented
and lawless element of the other bands to
fiock to his standard, until at one
time the band numbered three hundred.
I!ut when treaties were made with the
I'nited States and annuities were to be
granted most of those who had forsaken
the other bands returned to them, so as
to be sure of their annuities, so that at
the time of the settlement of northwestern
Iowa and southwestern Minnesota the
band of outlaws did not exceed fifty war-
riors.''
The whole of the state of Minnesota
west of the Mississippi river was in undis-
puted iinssession of the aborigines until
1851. The fine, fertile expanse of coun-
try of southern Minnesota was ground
upon wdiich the white man dare not lo-
cate. But the tide of immigration to the
west set in and settlers were clamoring
for admission to the rich lands west of
tlie ilississippi. In time the legal bar-
rier was removed.
In the spring of 1851 President Fill-
more, at the solicitation of residents of
Minnesota territory, directed that a treaty
with the Sioux be made and named as
commissioners to conduct the negotiations
Governor Alexander Eamsey, ex-officio
Indian commissioner for Minnesota, and
Luke Lea, the national commissioner of
Indian affairs. These commissioners com-
pleted a treaty with the Sisseton and Wah-
paton bands — the upper bands, as they
were usually called — at Traverse des
Sioux (near the present site of St. Peter)
during the latter part of July, 18.51. Im-
mediately afterward the commissioners pro-
ceeded to Mendota (near St. Paul), where
they were successful in making a treaty
=Jareb Palmer in Lakefield Standard, Febru-
ary 8, 1896.
with the Wahpakoota and irdaywakanton
bands.
The treaties were ratified, with import-
ant amendments, by congress in 1852.
The amended articles were signed by the
Indians in September, 1852, and in Feb-
ruary of the next year President Fillmore
proclaimed the treaties in force. By this
important proceeding the future Jackson
county passed from the ownership of the
Sioux to the United States government,
and the former owners took up their
residence on the north side of the Minne-
sota river.
The territory ceded liy the Indians was
declared to be :
All their lands in the state of Iowa and also
all their lands in the territory of Minnesota
lying east of the following; line, to- wit: Be-
iiinnint.' at the junction of the Buffalo river
with the Ked River of the North [about
twelve miles north of Moorhead. in Clay
eoniity] : thence along the western bank of
said Red River of the North to the mouth of
tlie .'*ioux Wood river; thence along the west-
ern bank of said Sioux Wood river to Lake
Traverse; thence along the western shore of
said lake to the southern extremity thereof;
thence in a direct line to the juncture of
Kampeska lake with the Tehan-ka-sna-du-ta,
or Sioux River; thence along the western
bank of said river to its point of intersection
^vith the northern line of the state of Iowa;
including all islands in said rivers and lakes.
The territory purchased from the four
Sioux bands was estimated to comprise
about 23,750,000 acres, according to Mr.
I'liomas Ilughes' computation, of which
;uore than nineteen millions acres were
in Minnesota, nearly three million acres
in Iowa, and more than one million, seven
hundred fifty thousand acres in what is
now Soutli Dakota. The ceded lands in
Iowa were north of Rock river, and also
included the country around Estherville,
Emmetsburg and Algona, extending east-
ward by the town of Osage almost to Cres-
co, the county seat of Howard county.
The aggregate price paid was about twelve
and one-half cents per acre.
Wiite men first penetrated the north-
west country to the present state of Min-
30
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
nesota in the middle of tlie seveuteenth
century (1055-50). In 1(583 the first map
on whicli pliysical foatures of Minnesota
are pictured was pub!i.<hed in connection
witli Hennepin's writings. This iiui)) is
verv vague and denioiutrates that very
little was known of the northwest country.
Five years later, in 1688, J. B. Franque-
lin, a Canadian FiTncli geojiraplier. draft-
ed for King Louis .\VI. of France a
more detailed map of North America,
making use of information gathered l)y
Joliet and Marquette, LaSalle, Hennepin,
DuLuth and others. Some of the princi-
pal streams and lakes are marked and
more or less accurately located, among
others the R. des Moingeue (Pes Moines).
There is no evidence to show that any of
these had visited the upper Des Moines
river country, and the data for the greater
part of the map were doubtless secured
from tlie Indians.
A few French explorers, named above,
had penetrated to several points within
the present boundaries of our state, but
none of thorn had explored the southwest-
ern portion. In 1700 LeSueur ascended
the Minnesota river and furaished data
for a more or less authentic map of .south-
western Jlinnesota, so far as the larger
and more important physical features are
concerned. This m'lp was made by Wil-
liam DeT/isle, royal gengraphor of France,
in 170.3. For the first time the Alinnesota
river appeared upon a map. being labeled
R. St. Pierre of l^Iini-Snta. Tlie Des
^foines also has a place on the map, being
marked Des Aloines or le 'Moingona R.,
and its source was definitely locatod.
There is nothing in the writings of Le
Suour,. however, to lead to the belief that
he had visited the lies Aloines river coun-
try, his explorations having been confined
to the country along the Minnesota.
Another map, made by Buache in 1751,
was compiled from data furnished Sieur
de la Verendrye by an Indian. The river
which flows througli .lackson county was
thereon marked Afoingona.
.\fter Ix'Sueur had penetrated to the
soutliwestern part of the state in 1700 that
portion of the country was not again
visited by white men until 60 years later,
so far as we know. In November, 1766,
Jonathan Carver ascended the Minnesota
river and spent the winter among the
Sioux in the vicinity of the present city
of New Ulm. He remained with the In-
dians until April. 1707, and learned their
language. It is po.ssible, but not jirobable,
that Carver during this time nuiy have
visited the country which is now included
within the boundaries of Jackson county,
for he hunted with the Indians over some
of the great plains of southwestern Alin-
nesota which, "according to their account
[the Indians], arc unbounded and ])rob-
ably terminate on the coast of the Pacific
ocean."
From the very earliest days wandering
and adventurous white traders, bartering
weapons and trinkets of civilized manu-
facture for the prized beaver furs of the
Indian hunters, had penetrated to the
wilds of the northwest, closely following
the explorers. So early as 1700-01 when
TjoSueur was on the Minnesota river a
number of these adventurers were report-
ed as having been encountered. It seems
highly probalile that some of these reck-
less frontiersmen had penetrated to the
\ipper Dos Afoinrs region before the coun-
try was known to (he world through the
imblished reports of the explorers of this
region. Rut these men were trappers and
traders, not historians, and left no records
of (heir doings. What wonderful tales of
adventure could be recorded of the early
history of Jackson county if the lives of
these men could be learned !
^V^1en Joseph Nicollet visited the up-
per Des Moines in the late thirties he
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
31
nienlioiietl havin.u- lour.d evidence, or hav-
ing been informed by the Indians, that
the fur traders of an earlier day, after
having wintered on tlie upper Des Moines,
had departed from a point within the lim-
its of the present Jaeteon county with
their furs. It was their custom to leave
tlie Des Moines near the northern line
of Jackson county and strike the headwa-
ters of the Watonwan, foHow down that
stream, the Bkie Earth and th.e Minneso-
ta to the IMississippi." When the first ix;r-
manent settlors came to Jackson covmty
in 185G there was very little evidence of
the operations of these former day trap-
pers and traders.'
While a number of explorers had visited
other pai-ts of Minnesota, and a few set-
tlements hail been established, during the
earlv part oC the nineteenth century, none
of them penetrated to the southwest cor-
ner. In 1S35 a government expedition,
commanded by Lieutenant Albert Miller
Lea, of the regular army, traversed the
area of what is now the state of Iowa
and advanced into the south edge of Min-
nesota, although he did not visit Jackson
eountv. With him were three companies
(if infantry, five four-mule teams and sev-
eral pack hor.ses. Lieutenant Lea trav-
eled iioithwartl along the divide between
the triljutaries of the Des Moines and Mis-
sissipi^i rivers, passed the site of the Min-
nesota city which now bears his name, and
continued to lake Peppin. From tliero
he started on the return trip, going in a
southwesterly direction across the head-
waters of the Cedar and Blue Earth rivers
to the Des Moines river, which he came
to south of the Jackson county line. Lieu-
tenant Lea proceeded down the river in a
canoe to ascertain if it were practicable
"Report Minnesota Geological Survey. isS4.
■Tlie Jacltson Repi-.lilic of March 19. 1S70,
stated that when the first settlers came tliere
was evidence to be found of an old French
trading post, located about six miles up the
river from Jackson, but I have been unable to
find other sources of information to confirm
this statement.
to bring supplies up that stream for a
fort. He sounded, meandered and plat-
ted the river, and after his return to win-
ter fjuarters published a book and map,
giving the history of the journey. His
trip led to the improvements that were
afterward made in the Des Moines river
by the government.
It was not until the late thirties that
our immediate vicinity became known and
was mapped. Catlin, Schoolcraft, Fcath-
erstonhaugh, Allen, Keating and Long
were early explorers To the wilds of Min-
nessota, but they confined themselves to
the ready routes of travel, passing through
the country in a single season. But in
18;3r) appeared one who crossed the upper
Mis.sissippi country in all directions,
spending several years, winters included,
ill preparing data for his map, which was
published after his death in 1843. This
was Joseph Nicolas Nicollet,^ who was the
first white man, of record, to set foot on
the soil of Jackson county.'' The princi-
pal aid of Mr, Nicollet in his explorations
in Minnesota was Lieutenant John C.
Fremont, later the nominee of the repub-
lican party for president of the United
States.
Nicollet gave names to many lakes, .
streams and other ])hysical features or
adopted those which were current, and the
map shows the scope of his explorations.
The country of which Jackson county
forms a part was laljilcd "Sisseton Coun-
try,"" he finding that branch of the Sioux
in ])ossession. He specially mentions a
visit to the red pipestone quarries, which
he made in July, 1838. He found that
tlie region west of tlie Mississippi had
*Do not confound with Jean Nicollet, an
American pioneer from France, who visited the
country nearly two hundred years earlier.
"It is possible that Nicollet did not in person
visit J^>ckson county, but certainly some of his
party did. Owing to his premature death much
of a historical nature concerning thi.s region
w.-is lost. He had notes for a work of several
volumes, relating principally to what is now
Minne.sota. and he had only fairly started the
work when he died.
32
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
several plateaus, or elcated prairies,
wliich marked the limits of the various
river basins. Tiic most remarkable of
these he called Plateau du Coteau des
Frairics (plateau of prairie heights) and
Coteau du Grand Bois (wooded heights).
Nicollet described tlic Coteau des Prairies
as a vast plain, elevated 191G feet above
the level of the ocean and 890 feet above
Bijr Stone lake, lying between latitudes 43
and 4G degrees, extending from north-
west to southeast for a distance of two
hundred miles, its width varying from fif-
teen to forty miles. On the map he marks
it as extending from a point a short dis-
tance northwest of lake Traverse in a
southeasterly direction into Iowa, and in-
cluding tlie wes'ern jiart of tlio prc.'sent
Jackson county. The explorer described
it as a beautiful country, from whose
summit grand views were afforded, said
that at the eastern border particularly,
the prospect was magnificent beyond de-
scription, extending over the immense
green turf that forms the basin of the
Rod River of the North, the forest clad
summit of the Hauteurs des Terres that
surround the sources of the Mississippi,
the gigantic valley of the upper Minne-
sota, and the depressions in wliich arc
lakes Traverse and Big Stone.
Tiiat Nicollet or some of his parly visi-
ted Jackson county is evidenced by the
fact that several natural features of tlie
county with which we are familiar were
given names and quite accurately located.
That he did not visit all parts of the
county is also evident from liis failure to
find Heron lake, that big body of wa-
ter in the northwest part. His map locates
•piite accurately the Jloingona (Des
^toines) river and locates the source of
that stream. He gives prominence to a
lake which he calls Tchan-Shetcha, or
Dry Wood lake (undoubtedly Fish lake),
whicli is just to the east of the Des Moines
river.'"
ilr. Nicollet calls attention to tlie liy-
drographical relation of the Des Moines
river with the Blue Earth, the Minnesota
and the Mississippi. He stated that the
Blue Eartii, by means of its tributary,
the Watonwan, liad one of its sources in
lake Tchan-Shetcha and that the land sep-
arating tliL; lake from the Des Moines was
not more tlian a mile or a mile and a half
in width." Thus, he stated, a short ca-
nal would bring the Des Moines into com-
munication with the Minnesota. He learn-
ed that tJiis interesting fact had former-
ly been taken advantage of by tlie fur
traders, who, after wintering on the head-
waters of the Des ^fi>ines, found it con-
venient to bring their peltries by water
communication through the Watonwan
valley and the Blue Eartli to* tlie Minne-
sota and thence to the mouth of that
river. On the map the space between the
river and the lake is marked "portage."'
On this remarkable map of 1843 Sjiir-
it lake is shown with its present name.
One or two of the lakes in Minucota town-
ship are shown but are not named. Other
hikes in the vicinity which are shown and
named are Okebene (Okabena), Ocheye-
dnn. Talcot and Shetok. Nicollet's work
was of ine.stimable value to Minnesota, by
reason of the thoroughness of his explora-
tion and the reasonable accuracy of his
map, which became the official map of
the country.
The next record we have of white men
visiting Jackson county was in 1844, when
Captain J. Allen passed through it, up the
Des Moines river. Upon approaching the
region of the line separating Iowa from
Minnesota Captain Allen speaks of becom-
'»Tht> looatlnn of this Like as Klvoti by Mr.
Nlpollft is liitUudi' ■(.■! (iegrrpes. 45 minutps, ami
longitiidp Ot (loRrops. 12 mlnutps. which is thi>
loc.Ttion of Heron l.iko acrording' to tho sur-
veys. However, he eoiild. ])y no possibiUty.
hTve mcJint Heron lake.
"Fl.«h lake is about one and three-quarters
miles from the Des Moines,
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTr.
33
ing ijenned among numerous lakes and of
being compelled to cross a narrow strait
by swimming two hundred yards. This
place was probably a narrow spot in Swan
lake, in Emmet -co luity, Iowa. From there
he sent a party to examine the eoiintry
to the east, and they proceeded to Iowa
hike, on the boundary line, and explored
its outlet toward the east and into the
east chain of lakes in Martin county. They
reached the conclusion that the water of
these lakes was tributary^ to the Blue
Earth.
Allen and his party continued north
tlirough Jackson county, camping at Eagle
lake and at Independence lake. When
lie reached what is now Christiania town-
ship, near Windom, he described the coun-
try as a "wonderfully broken surface, ris-
ing and falling in high knobs and deep ra-
vines, with numerous little lakes in the
deep valleys, some of them clear and pret-
ty and others grassy." A party visited the
Blue Mounds and found an artificial
mound of stone on the highest peak.
At lake Talcott Captain Allen left his
men in camp for a rest while he himself
visited lake Shetek, which he named lake
of the Oaks. By observation of the sun
with a small sextant he located this lake
in latitude 43 degrees, 57 minutes, 32 sec-
onds, but as a matter of fact it is some-
what above latitude 44 degrees. He de-
scribed the lake as being remarkable for
a singular arrangement of the peninsulas
running into it from all sides and for a
heavy growth of timber that covered these
peninsulas and the borders of the lake.
Allen pronounced lake of the Oaks to
be the highest source of the Des Moincb
worth noticing as such, though he also
mentions an inlet coming in from the
north, "but of no size or character."
From lake Shetek the expedition con-
tinued northward thirty-seven miles,
crossing the Cottonwood and Eedwood
rivers, and then proceeded eastward to the
St. Peter's (Minnesota) river. From the
mouth of tlie Eedwood the southern shore
of the St. Peter's was explored for a dis-
tance of several miles each way. Eeturn-
ing to lake Shetek,- the expedition set out
for the west, reached the Big Sioux river
and proceeded down that stream to its
mouth.
Concerning the big game found on the
upper Des Moines and other parts of the
country visited. Captain Allen wrote :
Fiom Lizard creek of the Des Moines to the
source of the Des Moines, and tjience east to
the St. Peters, is a range for elk and common
deer, but principally elk. We saw a great
many of the elk: they were sometimes seen
ill droves of linndreds, hut were always dif-
ticult to approacli and very difficult to over-
take in chase, except with a fleet horse and
over good ground. Xo dependence could be
]ilaccd upon this game in this country for the
subsistence of troops marching through it.
Twenty-five miles west of the source of the
Des Moines Ave struck the range of the buf-
falo and continued in it to the Big Sioux
river and down that river about eighty-six
miles. Below that we could not see any re-
cent signs of them. We found antelope in
the same range with the buffalo., but no elk
and very seldom a common deer. Wliile
among the buffalo we killed as many as we
wanted and without trouble.
This completes the record of early ex-
ploration of our county, and we find that
when Minnesota territory was created in
1849 the southwestern portion of the ter-
ritory was a vteritable terra incognita.
The land was still in undisputed owner-
ship of the Sioux bands, and white men
liad no rights whatever in the country.
Eeturn I. Holcombe, in Minnesota in
Tliree Centuiies, tells of the conditions in
soutliern Minnesota at the time the terri-
tory was formed :
AVestward of the Mississippi river the coun-
try was unexplored and virgin. There were
wide expanses of wild and trackless prairie,
never traversed by a white man, which are
I'ow the highly developed counties of south-
ern and southwestern Minnesota, with their
fine and flourishing cities and towns and the
other institutions that make Tor a state's
eminence and greatness. Catlin had passed
from Little Rock to the pipestone quarry;
Nicollet and his surveying party had gone
34
IIISTOl.'V OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
over tlic same inulc and liail traveled along
the Minne-^nta. Sibley ^and Fremont had chas-
ed elk over the prairies in wliat are now
Steele, Dod-ie. I'reeliorn and Mower counties;
llie Missouri cattle drovers hail led their herds
In Kort Snellin;; and up to the I!ed river re<;-
ions, hut ill all. not tifty white men had pass-
ed over the tract of territory now comprising
southern and southwestern .Minnesota when
I lie territory wa.s orjianized in 1S49.
The treaty witli the Sioux Indians,
iii;i(k' in 1S51, ratified in 185-2, and prn-
claiined early in ]S5;3, tlircw open to .<i't-
t lenient tlio whole of gotithern Miiine.-^ota,
and soon thereafter settlements hefran to
make their appearance in the eastern por-
tion, although it was some years later
when white .settlers penetrated to the fu-
ture Jaekson eounty.
The lino between tlie state of Iowa and
tiio territory of Minnesota was surveyed
in lSo2. The engineers began at the
southwest corner of Minnesota about the
first of August and ran their line east-
ward, reaching the southwest corner of
Jackson eounty on August 8.'= They
located the IJne along the southern boun-
dary of Jackson coiiiiiy ami jiroceedetl on
their way eastward.
In 1853 Captain J. 1.. ilcim e.xccutotl
a survey for a military wagon road from
the mouth of the Big Siou.x river, at Sioux
City, to Mendota, at the mouth of the
Minnesota, hut the map of his survey was
not luiblished. He crossed the Des Moines
river in Iowa and after traveling ten miles
farther entereil Minnesota and ])ossil)ly
touched Jackson county. He creased
branches of the Watonwan and Blue I'^arth
rivers and laid out his road along the
west bank of the Blue Earth to its un-
ion with the Minnesota, thence to ^faiika-
to and on to Mendota.
The years 1854, 1855 ami 185G, were
remarkable ones in Minnesota territory
by reason of the iininensc tide of immi-
gration pouring in and the consequent
activity and legitimate and "wild cat" real
"Surveyors" Field Notes.
estate operations. So early as 1S52 the
real estate speculative era had commence<l
in St. Paul and the older settlements
along the eastern border of the territory.
Illustrative of the times in St. Paul at
that early date is the lollowing, which was
written by a correspondent of the Pitts-
burgh Token who was in St. Paul in the
fall of 1853:
My ears at ever_\ iiiin iui- >aluted with
everlastiu}; din. Land! Land: Money! Spec-
ulation! Saw mills! Town lots! etc., etc.
I turn away sick and disfjnsted: land at
lircakfast. land nt dinner, land at .supper, aii<l
until eleven o'clock, land: then land in bed
until their vocal organs are exhausted, then
they dream and gioan out land, land! Kvery-
Ihing is artificial, lloating. the excitement of
liade. s))eculation and expectation is now
running liigh. and will perhaps for a year or
so, but it must have a reaction.
During 185;i and 1854 there were large
accessions of population to the eastern
]iart of the territory ; roads were construc-
ted ; farms were opened in the wilderness;
villages sprang into existence in many
parts of the frontier. During these years
1 be settlements did not extend to the west-
ern and southwestern parts of the ter-
ritory, bill during the next few years the
huiiian flow |)oured in and S]iread out in-
to nearly all ]iarts of Minnesota. The
fever of real estate speculation, whiili had
been only feebly developed before, now at-
tacked all classes. Enormous and rapid
profits were made by speculators who liad
tlie fore-=ight and courage to venture.
Thousands of acres of Minnesota lands
which had been seen red from the govern-
ment in 1854 for $1.25 per acre sold the
following year for $5.00,
Not only (o Jtinnesota, but to all parts
of the U])per Mississippi valley, came the
grand rush of homeseekers, who spread
out over the rich lands of Iowa, Minneso-
ta, Kans.is ami Xcbraska. These hordes
of immigrants did not take all the lands
as they went along but were constantly
|)iishing out onto the frontier. The reason
of this is easily understood. Nearly all
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
35
who were coming out to the northwest
country were from the eastern and central
states, where tiniber was abundant, and
they were loth to settle on the prairie very
far from timber and water. In fact, so
discriminating were tliey that few were
willing to settle where they could not
liave timber and prairie land adjoining!
In consequence the settlements in the
new country were confined to narrow belts
along the streams and around the lakes,
where groves of timber were usually found.
So soon as the desirable claims were taken
in one locality some adventurou.? immi-
grant would strike out across the track-
less prairie in search of a place where he
rnuld liave first choice of claims. He
would soon be followed by others and a
new settlement would be founded. By
reason of this the settlements were often
thirty or forty miles apart, while the dif-
ferent inhabited portions of the .same
stream were often ten or fifteen miles
apart. In tliis way settlers were constant-
ly pushing out onto the extreme frontier
in search of suitable places to build homes
for themselves and their families, many
times not waiting for the Indians to leave,
but moving among them.
Under conditions such as tliese Jackson
county received its first settlers.
THE NEW YOBK
IpUBUC UBRAR'f
MTOH, LtftCX W«^
TICDEN F0UN04T*
CHAPTER II.
EAELY SETTLEMENT— 1856.
HUNDEEDS of immigrants had
come to the upper Mississippi ,
valley during the first half of
the fifties, suitable places of residence had
been found to the east and south of the
present Jaclvson county but none had pen-
erated to the sightly locations on the up-
per Des Moines. Jackson county was with-
out a permanent settler until the summer
of 185G.^ That year, from July to De-
cember, some forty people, including wom-
en and children, came to the Des Moines
river country of Jackson county. They
erected about a dozen log cabins along the
river, extending from a point a few miles
south of the present village of Jackson to
a point seven or eight miles north of the
village (most of the cabins being in the
timber in the vicinity of Jackson) and set-
tled as permanent residents.
'Mr. D. S. Crapper, in an interview in the
Jacltson Republic of August 30. 1873. claimed to
tiave been the first white settler to locate in
Jackson county, stating that he had come from
the Boone river country, in Iowa, squatted on
a claim just east of the Des Moines river near
the Michael Miller farm on section 30. Wiscon-
sin township, resided there three years, and
left in December, 1S56. He said that he broke
up ground and raised crops and that when the
-settlers of 1856 came he assisted them in build-
ing their cabins. He recounted many a tussle
he had had with the Indians who infested the
countr.v and stated that buffalo and elk were
here in abundance. The reason I have not in-
corporated this data in the text is because there
is good cause to doubt its authenticity. If Mr.
Crapper resided in Jackson county when he is
made to say he did. the fact was unknown to
the settlers who located in the vicinity in 1S5G.
He may have been in Jackson county in an
earl.v day but that he ever resided here is
doubtful. He was known as a resident of the
Boone river country.
The credit of becoming the first white
settlers of Jackson county is generally
(and rightfully) given to three brothers,
William, George and Charles Wood, who
came during the month of July, 1856,-
and located on land which now comprises
the principal business and residence sec-
tion of the village of Jackson. William
Wood seems to have been the leading spir-
it of the brothers.^ Early in the fifties
he had left his Indiana home and gone to
the new village of Mankato, where he
joined Eobert Wardlow, a dealer in gener-
al merchandise. Much of the trade of
these days was with the Indians and Wil-
liam Wood had ample opportunity to be-
come acquainted with the aborigines, fre-
quently making trips to the interior coun-
try.
On one such occasion, in 1854, Mr.
Wood, in the discharge of his duties as
Indian trader, and also while cruising and
looking about for a location in which to
make a future home for himself and his
motlier's large family, came upon the
sightly location of the present village of
Jackson. Early in 1856 he returned to
his mother's home in Eidgeville, Eandolph
-'"I think Mr. [William] Wood was the first
to take a claim in what is now Jackson count.v.
for some time during the winter [of 1856-57]
he told me that he had selected his claim some
time in July." — Jareb Palmer in Lakefield Stand-
ard, December 7, 1895.
^See biographical section for sketches of the
lives of the Woods.
37
33
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
county, IndiaiKi. niui proposed that George
Wood, wlio was then the head of the fam-
ily, and Charles Wood, who was a boy of
lifteen or sixten years of age. should go
with liini to the new and promising coun-
try which he had discovered and there
prepare a home for themselves and their
aged motiier and lur family. The sug-
gestion was approved by the other mem-
bers of the family, and in July the three
brothers arrived on the banks of the Des
Moines river to make their homes.'
Believing that the site was one favor-
able for trading with the Indians who
roamed over tile country and with white
settlers who would in time be sure to spy
out and locate in this beautiful spot, the
brothers decided to establish a trading
post. In accordance with the custom of the
times in Minnesota, it was also deemed
the proper thing to lay out a town. Wil-
liam and George Wood each took land
claims. As the land had not yet been
survej'cd it is impossible to tell exactly
the boundaries of their claims, and it is
doubtful if the brothers themselves had
more than an indeHnitc idea of where
their land was. A man by the name of
Bakor, who came through the co\intry
about the time the brothers were locating
their claims, said that he was a surve)'or,
and jiaving a compass he ran a line north
from the state line between the townships
of Middletown and Petersburg and be-
tween Des Moines and Wisconsin, and
from this line were located all the early
day claims. In after years it was learned
that this line was not within eighty rods
of its proper location. The bulk of the
Wood brothers' land was on the west side
of the river and included portions of sec-
tions 21, 2:?, 2f) and 2o, Des Moines
township. The two brothers entered upon
a full section of government land, each
'Mr. K. B. Wootl. a brother of the Woods
mentioned. Is my authority for these state-
ments.
an individual farm claim under the pre-
emption law (there was no homestead law
at the time) of 160 acres, and in partner-
ship a half section for a townsite. The
townsite included the whole of the second
bench — the residence portion of the pres-
ent village — and the farm claims included
the business jwrtion of the present Jack-
son village and extended across the river."
The Woods nameil their proposed town
Springfield because of the fact that there
was a spring on it near where they built
tlieir cabin. The townsite was not platted
liy surveyors, but was simply held in an-
ticipation of the time when settlers should
come in sufficient numbers to warrant the
building of a town. A large, one-room log
building was erected at a point near the
river in the northwest part of the present
day village upon what is now the Frost
property. In this lirst building erected
in Jackson county the three brothers lived
and conducted their store, carrying a
stock of goods of such kind and cliaracter
as was most salable to the settlers, who
came soon afterward, and the Indians."
Almost immediately after the Wood
brothers had located at Springfield (but
not because of that fact) quite a number
of settlers — all American born — came to
the vicinity. Some selecte<l claims and
erected log cabins, intending to become
permanent settlers. Others, in the spec-
ulative spirit of the times, selected claims
and returned to their homes, intending
to dispose of them later and thus realize
on their visit to the frontier. It is im-
possible to give the dates of arrival of
those who came during the summer and
fall of 1856, extending over a period of
time from July to December, but much
Miiii'li I'.alnur In Lakofleld Standard. Decem-
ber 7, 1SSI5.
""Thoy kept a very Rood assortment of goods
for ,1 pioneer store, but a large part of It was
intended for the Indian trade, as the Indians
fished, trapped and hunted ali over the adja-
cent coiHitry and of coin'se had mueh fur .and
hides to sell at Ilsrures allowing the tiuder fabu-
lous profits." — Jareb Palmer.
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
39
of ;i historical nature concerning these pio-
neers has been preserved, whicli makes
the history of the early settlement of
Jackson county interesting. The greater
part of the settlers of this year came from
Webster City, Iowa, and the vicinity, and
tlie causes that led to their settling here,
together with the story of their settle-
ment and incidents of the early days, will
now be recorded.'
In tlie spring of 1850 a party of ex-
plorers and honieseekers left the vicinity
of Webster City in search of a desirable
})lace to make a new settlement, most of
the best claims in their vicinity having
been taken. They proceeded northward and
discovered Spirit and Okoboji lakes. On
the banks of those lakes they staked
claims and then returned for their fam-
ilies and other adventirrous homeseekers
whom they thought would accompany
them on their return and assist in set-
tling up the beautiful country they had
found.
Accompanied by others, as had been
anticipated, these men returned, only to
find that a party of men from Red Wing,
Minnesota, had come during their ab-
sence and "jumped" their claims, .^s
the Red Wing party were armed and de-
clared their intentions of figliting tor
the claims if necessary, the Webster City
people concluded to look elsewhere for
homes. They had not long to search or
far to go. They proceeded north and east
and came upon the beautiful country of
magnificent groves and rich prairie along
tlie Des Moines river in Jaclvson county.
Tliose wlio had families and some who did
not staked claims and erected log cabins,
the logs being cut from the woods along
tlie river. Among the party were spee-
ulatrirs, who did not intend to permanent-
ly liicati' Imt who picked out the best
claims thev could get and waited for some
"Compiled largely from the writings of Jareb
Palmer.
one to come along and buy their rights.
ITsually, if they had a good claim, they
did not have long to wait, for claim hunt-
ers were plentiful. Before winter set in
several of the claims had changed hands.
Some of those who had come to the
Springfield settlement, as it was called in
honor of the Woods' townsite, returned to
Weljster City in the fall, sold their claims,
and induced a few others to locate in the
new settlement.
Among the first and most prominent of
the settlers of 1856 was James B. Thom-
as,^ who came from Webster City with
jiiii family, consisting of a wife and six
children, in August. Of all the settlers
Mr. Thomas made the best preparation for
winter. His claim was on the east side of
the river, probably on the southeast quar-
ter of section 25, Des Moines township,
where he built a comfortable two-room log
cabin with a fireplace in each room. He
had a number of cattle and put up sufliic-
ient hay to keep thcin through the win-
ter.
John Dodson and Joseph Chiflin, bacli-
eloj-s, were trappers who wBre also holding
laud claims. They lived in a little cabin
on Dodson's claim, a couple of miles
northMe«t of Woods" store, probably on
section 22. These men were pai'tners and
kept a few goods for the Indian trade.
Chifl'in's claim was on the east side of the
river, northeast of the present day railroad
bridge and on section 11. He built a
cabin there, in which, during the first part
of the winter, lived Robert Smith, an Eng-
lishman, and his wife and John Hender-
son, a Virginian, about whom the reader
will learn more later in this chapter. Dur-
ing the latter part of the winter they lived
in the Wheeler cabin farther down the
river. They took adjoining claims on the
west side, above Woods' store, but did not
build.
"See biographical section for a sketch of the
life of James B. Thomas.
40
HiSTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
J. B. Skinner and wife located on the
west side of Hit.' rivt-r, in the timber only
a few rods from the river bank, proba-
bly on section 3. Tliere ^Mr. Skinner
erected a log cabin in wliicli he and his
wife resided during- the early part of the
winter, later moving down the river and
moving into the Wheeler cabin. Farther
up the river than Mr. Skinner, on the
east side and probably on section 34, Bel-
mont townshiiJ, wa.« the home of William
Nelson, wath whom lived liis wife and one
child. This family also spent the latter
part of the winter in the Wheeler cabin,
in the more thickly settled part of the
settlement.
William Clnircli and family early came
to tiie settlement from Webster City, and
he erected a cabin on the east side of the
river, a few rods south of wlicre the ele-
vators along the Milwaukee road bow
stand. In this cabin lived Mr. and Mrs.
Church, their one child, Mrs. Church's
sister. Miss Drusilla Swanger, and a young
Gennan, Henry Trets by name, who was
employed by Mr. Church. Late in the fall
Mr. Church went to Webster City to lay
in supplies for the winter, but on account
of the heavy snow he was uiialile to return
and was absent all winter.
-Vnother one of the early settlers was
Joshua Stewart, who willi his family, con-
sisting of a wife and three children, re-
sided in a cabin about one-half mile
north of the Thomas home, and there ho
had his land claim. .\dam P. Shiegley, a
trapper of French descent, came to the
claim and lived in a cabin in a large
grove in a ravine a short distance cast and
south of the Thomas cabin. He showed
his French proclivities by being quite
friendly with the Indians. He was a wid-
ower and brought to the settlement with
him his boy of about two years of age.
The child spent the greater part of the
winter with the family of William Church
and later was cared for by Mrs. Skinner.
Among the other settlers who came to
the Springfield settlement in 1856 were
v.. B. N. Strong (sometimes referred to
as Hr. Strong) and family, who had a
claim and lived in a cabin in a large
grove on the west side of the river on what
is now the southeast quarter of section
3G, Des Moines townshij). Here lived Mr.
and Mrs. Strong, their one child, two or
three years old, (during the winter a sec-
ond child was born to them) and Miss
Eliza Gardner, who had accompanied the
family from the Okoboji settlement."
Two other settlers of some promincn'^c
in the community were David Carver an''
.Idhn Bradshaw, who were among the first
to come from Webster City and build in
the frontier settlement. Both these gen-
tlemen erected cabins on the east side
of the river, on section 19, Wisconsin
township, north and east of Mr. Stewart's
cabin, Jlr. Carver's being the farther
noith. Messrs. Carver and Stewart com-
menced building a dam across the Des
Moines river (near the point where Major
H. S. Bailey afterwards started a brick
yard) but it was not completed. These
;:i'iilli'incn expected to sell the improve-
ments to ]v.irtics of means wlien they were
lompleted. Both Carver and Bradshaw
spent part of the winter in Webster City,
hut retuincd on foot early in the spring.
During their absemo their cabins were
unoccupied.
•"On one occasion, wlillo on a trip to Fort
Dodge, father fell In with a Dr. Strong and
prevailed upon him tn visit the l:il(<s with .a view
to settlement; hut after stninilii); with lis a few
days he derided to locate at Springlleld. His
family consisteil of himself, wife and one child
(two years old). His wife heiiiK in delicate
health^ and he necessarily being away much
of the time from home, she persuaded my sis-
ter. Kliza. to whom she became attached, to
accompany them. This was in the month of
October, and owing to a heavy fall of snow on
the first of December, followed by others In
nniek succession, until the snow on the level
was four or five feet and in the drifts sometimes
nfteen or twenty, traveling w.is impossible.
Kliza was thus unable to return and so escaped
the fate of the rest of the family." — Abble
r.ardner-Sharp in HlstoiT of the Spirit Lake
Massacre.
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
41
On Nuvoniber 27 Messrs. Jareb Pal-
mer, Nathaniel Frost and Bartholomew
McCarthy drove into the Springfield set-
tlement from Webster City and became
identified with the early history of the
place, they being the last to arrive during
the year 1856. As Mr. Palmer has writ-
ten so entertainingly of this trip and of
the events upon his arrival, I here give
his account as it was published in the
Jackson Republic of September 19, 1884:
I was then residing' at Webster City but
was not a member of the parties that left
there in tlie spring and summer of 1856,
though I was acquainted with some members
of each party, but cannot pretend to give a
complete list of their names. Late in the
fall some of them returned to Webster City,
and among tliem was Joseph Elliott, a young
man who had taken a claim in Jackson coun-
ty, then known as the Springfield settlement.
As he wanted to sell his claim Nathaniel Frost
and myself bought it and began making pre-
parations for the long and lonesome journey
to Springfield. Bartholomew McCarthy had
also bought a claim of J. Griffith.
We all three set out at the same time and
journeyed together until the 27th day of No-
vember, 18oti, we arrived at the house of
James B. Thomas. . . . The next day we
set about hunting up our claims. Mr. Frost's
and mine was found to be the gi-ove next
south of the large grove, being, I think, on
section 1, Middletown.
Mr. McCarthy found his up the river, being
the grove where Ole E. Olson, of Bolmonl.
now lives. But he found that a half-breed
Indian by the name of Gaboo had built a
shanty on it and was keeping an Indian trad-
ing post there. He also claimed the grove.
Mr. Frost accompanied Mr. McCarthy when
he went to take possession of his claim. Ga-
boo was unwilling to give up the claim, but
hi, invited Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Frost to
remain over night with him, which invitation
they gladly accepted.
Gaboo had a number of Indians camped out
near his shanty, and in the evening they set
up a great hubub of shouts and cries and
lamentations and curses and imprecations. The
two lonely white men began almost to feel
their hair rise, and inquired of the half-
breed what it all meant. They were informed
tliat the Indians were mad because the white
men were trying to get his claim away from
him and that they were talking of killing
them before morning. WHiether the whites
were really alarmed or not I cannot say, but
McCarthy finally compromised with Gaboo and
entered into an agreement with him to pay
lu'm a certain amount of money on his remov-
ing from his claim, which he agreed to do in
the spring. After the claim dispute was thus
satisfactorily settled the Indians quieted down
and the white men were glad to seek their
repose. Whether their dreams were disturbed
l!\ visions of tomahawks and scalping knives
i have never learned. In the morning the
half-breed told Mr. Frost of a claim up the
river that had quite a good grove of timber
on it; and so Frost and McCarthy hitched
up their team and drove up to view it. Mr.
Frost liked it and concluded to take it, giving
up to me his half of the claim we had bought.
His grove is the one near John Monson's, on
section 6, Belmont township.
Of these three arrivals Mr. McCarthy
returned to hi.s home in Webster City ear-
ly in December, with the intention of com-
ing back in the spring and taking pos-
session of his claim. Mr. Palmer built a
small cabin on his claim on section 1,
Middletown, but made liis home with Mr.
Strong, working part of the winter for
James B. Thomas and for the Wood broth-
ers. Mr. Frost, who finally selected his
claim up the river, did not build or live
thereon during the winter but worked in
the settlement further down the river.
In addition to these white settlers there
were in the settlement two Indian camps.
One of these, already mentioned in Mr.
Palmer's account, was located on the east
.<ide of the river on what is now section
22, Belmont. This camp consisted of
til roe or four families gathered about the
trading house of Josepli Coursalle, or Ga-
1)00," as he was generally called, a well
known half-breed Sioux who had come to
the country from Traverse des Sioux. An-
other camp of four families was located
on the west side of the river a short dis-
tance above Woods' store and directly east
from Dodson's cabin. This camp was
presided over by Smoky Moccasin, or Um-
pashota," his Indian name, a medicine
man with the authority of a sub-chief. The
Indians of both these camps were an-
nuity Sissetons and off-shoots from Sleepy
"Return I. Holcombe, in Minnesota in Three
Centuries, states that the name Gaboo, is a
cnrruption of Godbout.
"Hamp-pah-Shota is the spelling- given by
Mr. Holoombe.
42
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Eye's band, whose headquarters were then
at Swan lake.
Besides the white settlers who liad be-
come piTiuaiU'iit rosidents of the Spring-
field comnnuiily and ^pent the winter in the
new country, quite a number of others
had been here during the summer and
fall. Some of these came with the inten-
tion of becoming permanent settlers,
erected cabins, and then returned to their
former homes to spend the winter. Others
came for the purpose of staking claims
to be disposed of later and liad no inten-
tion of living in the country.
William T. Wheeler, a lawyer from
Jasper county, Iowa, was one who was
in the settlement during the summer of
185G. He came and selected a claim with
the intention of laying out a townsite and
built his claim cabin a little south and
west of the present location of the Mil-
waukee depot. This claim and cabin were
afterwards purchased by Joseph Thomas.
Mr. Wheeler remained only long enough
to erect his cabin. As has been stated, the
Wheeler cabin was occupied during the
latter part of the winter by several of
the settlers from up the river.
Others who came but did not remain
were Bartholomew McCarthy, already
mentioned; Joseph Elliott, who sold his
claim to Jareb Palmer and Nathaniel
Frost; J. GrilTith,'= whose claim Mr. Mc-
Carthy had l)ought; William Searles, who
came from Iowa with his brother in-law
William Nelson : and possibly a few others.
A recapitulation .^hows us that there
were the following named forty-two peo-
ple residing in Jackson county during the
fall and winter of 1856:"
"Griffith was a professlonnl claim Iradei- and
was ■lulto an advertising medium for the
S|irlngtii-ld settlement.
"It win lie remembered that of these Wil-
liam Church was absent niarly all winter;
Eliza Gardner was not a permanent resident,
but was a visitor with the Strong famll.v: David
Carver and John Bradshaw were absent the
gi cater part of the winter.
William Wood.
George Wood.
Charles Wood.
James B. Thomas, wife and six child-
ren.
John Dodson.
Joseph Chiffin.
Kobert Smith and wife.
Jolin Henderson.
J. B. Skinner and wife.
William Nelson, wife and one child.
William Church, wife and one child.
Hrusilla Swanger.
Henry Trets.
Jdsliua Stewart, wife and three child-
ren.
.\daiii l". Sliiegley and one child.
K. 1>. X. Si long, wife and two child-
ren.
Eliza Gardner.
Jaiel) Palmer.
Nathaniel Frost.
David Carver.
.Inhn Bradshaw.
The settlement consisted of thirleen cab-
ins, of which four or five were unoccupied
the greater part of the lime. .\ll the cal)-
ins were Imilt of logs, cut from tlie near-
liv timber, and were covered with "shakes."
lumlier being used only for doors. Some
of the cabins had floors made of punch-
eons, while others had earth floors. Most
of them had at least one small window.
All of the settlers were jwor so far as
this world's goods are concerned. The
Wood brothers and James B. Thomas were
the most fortunate in the possession of
property and were domiciled in the best
cabins of the settlement.
.Ml had come to the settlement too late
in the season to raise a crop or even to
plant gardens, and only one or two had
so much as plowed a furrow of ground.
A few. but not all. ha<l put uj) enough
hay for the few head of stock they brought
with them. In consequence of these con-
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
43
ditions all kinds of provisions had to be
hauled in from tiie nearest settlements,
whicli were long distances away. These
were mostly brougliL in from Webster
City, Iowa, and from Mankato, Minnesota,
where the mail for the settlers was also
secured. In the early jjart of the winter
flour sold for $8.00 to $10.00 per hun-
dred weight, later went to $15.00 and in
the spring was not to be had at any price.
Potatoes were $3.00 per bushel, beef 15
to 20 cents per pound and other staples
in proportion. The last team aiTived
from the outer world on November 2,1,
and from that time until the last of
Marcli the people of the Springfield set-
tlement were isolated.
The winter of 185G-57 was one of the
most severe that was ever experienced in
the northwest country and will always be
remembered by those who were at the
time living on the frontier, by reason of
its bitter coldness, deep snows and violent
storms. On the first day of December
began a terrific blizzard wliich continued
with unabated fury for three days and
three nights. It left the level ground cov-
ered with two feet of snow and all tlie
hollows and ravines extending into the
prairie were drifted full, in places to a
depth of from twenty to thirty feet. The
storms followed each other in quick suc-
cession all winter and into the spring. The
snow accumulated on the sides of the
bluffs along the river until it would break
off and fall in an avalanche to the bot-
tom. It was absolutely impossible to get
about with a team except on the ice on
the river bed. The settlers were illy pre-
pared for any winter, much less such a
one as this, and there was much suffering
during the long dreary season.
It was during, and as a result of, this
severe winter that the first death occurred
in Jackson county. During the summer
of 1856 a military mail route had been
established between Mankato and Sioux
City. This was a connecting link of a
route extending from Fort Ridgely, in
■Minnesota, to Fort Randall, in Dakota,
and traversed a practically uninhabited
country. The contract for carrying the
mails over this part of the route was let
to Marsh and Babcock, of Mankato, to
whom were given, in addition to a money
consideration, a half section of land every
twenty miles along the route, upon which
they were to build and maintain stations
for the convenience of the carrier. There
were no postoflices along the route. In the
fall the contractors mapped out the route,
selected their lands and built small cabins
thereon, in which were stored hay for the
carrier's pony and small supplies of pro-
visions for the carrier. One of these sta-
tions was built on the river on section 17,
Belmont township; another was on Round
lake, in the southwestern corner of Jack-
son county. No one lived in these cabins
and the carrier had to secure his fuel,
make his fire and prepare his meals after
having traveled, perliaps, thirty or forty
miles through the winter storms. A man
by the name of Hoxie Rathban was em-
ployed as carrier, making the trip on a
pony twice a month.
Mr. Rathban met his death at the sta-
tion in Belmont township on December
26, 1856, after having been exposed to the
teiTible storms since early December. He
had Ijcen gone so long on the trip that the
contractors feared tliere must be some-
thing wrong, so they sent two men to look
for the missing carrier. The story of the
finding of this unfortunate man is told in
the language of Mr. Jareb Palmer:
Arriving at the mail station on the Des
Moines river in this county on the SCith of
December, they found the mail carrier there,
but in a dying condition, being badly frozen,
starving and unable to speak or move. He
died a few minutes after he was found. He
had evidently been there some time, but had
not been able to build a fire, probably being
loo badly frozen when he reached the cabin
44
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
to have sufficient use of his bands to do so.
lie liad lost liis pony, probably in some snow
drift, but liad the mail sack all right, and in
it was a letter postmarked at Sioux City on
the 6th day of December. l''rora this circum-
stance it was evident that he had been out
twenty days before he was found. His suf-
ferings during those dreary days must have
been terrible indeed, without the company,
assistance or solace of a single human being.
He had a wife and family in ilankato who
were left to mourn his terrible death.
The men who found Kathban had come
through with a horse and jumper. Tbey re-
mained in the cabin over night and ne.xt
morning commenced to retrace their lonesome
;ind perilous journey, taking the frozen corpse
with them. As it happened, William Wood
and Nathaniel Frost had started to .Mankato
the same day with ox teams to bring in sup-
plies. The two parties met near Kln\ creek,
about twelve miles northeast nf Springlield.
They camped together for the night, and be-
fore morning another terrible storm set in and
they had to lay over all of the next day and
night without a fire, the storm i)utting it
out, but on the morning of the second day
the storm had abated sulficiently for them to
make their way back to Woods' store, and
not till then did any of the settlers know of
the death of the mail carrier.
The party laid over at Woods' store until
the 31st day of December, when thoy once
more commenced their toilsome journey across
the prairie and through the deeply drifted
snow, taking the corpse with them. They
were four days in reaching Mr. Slocum's, on
the Watonwan, twenty-five miles this side of
Mankato. his being the first house on the
rouie. The weather was inti-nscly cold and
the party suffered severely, some of them
freezing their hands and feet. Mr. Frost was
among the number that suffered from frost
bites. Mr. Wood reached Mankalo and pro-
cured his supplies, but was unable to haul
them through the deep snow, even with ox
teams. So he left Mr. Frost to care for the
teams and returned alone and on foot to
Springfield.
William Wood, who was a man of ex-
traordinarv grit and ondurant-o, made two
trips alone across tlie prairie to Manka-
to durinfT this winter, in addition to the
one mentioned. While on one of these
journeys he was overtaken by a storm at
Cellar lake which put out his fire and
drifted him under, covering him with
snow to a depth of two feet. In that con-
dition he lay two days and two nights.
The e.xperience was very painful as he
was unable to turn over, but was compel-
led to remain in one position until the
.'iorm abated. Then with great dilfitulty
ho dragged his benumbed and stilTened
limbs from under the snow, made a fire,
dried his clothes and blankets, prepared
and ate a frugal meal, and hastened on his
journey. It i.s such incidents as these that
show what these pioneers of Jackson coun-
ty endured.
Another incident of the winter illus-
trates the terrible conditions of the set-
tlers about Springfield and brought forth
an act of heroism by a self-styled doctor,
who performed several successful amputa-
tions with improvised instruments.
About the first of February Robert
Smitii and John Henderson, wiio, it will
lie remembered, were living in the Chiffin
caliin some distance up the river from the
]Hinfipal .settlement, ran short of hay,
and ratlier than see their stock perish for
want of food, decided to drive them to n
settlement on the Watonwan river near
Mankato. Preparing themselves as well
as they could, they started out on foot one
bright sunny morning, carrying tiic
necessary provisions and a few blankets,
driving the cattle ahead of them. Their
progress was slow and they did not make
more than ten miles when night came up-
on them. The cattle were somewhat weak
and were unable to wallow through the
deeps drifts, so Suiith and Henderson
often had to go ahead and break a path
for them.
At night the men made camp on the
bleak prairie and were without shelter and
fire. To their dismay there came up one
of those ever dreaded blizzards — the ter-
ror of the jirairie. So violent had the
storm become by daybreak that they aban-
doned their cattle, nearly all of which per-
ished, and sought to save themselves. They
endeavored to find their way bark to the
settlement, but owing to the blinding snow
they could not tell in which way to pro-
HISTOEY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
45
feed. They became completely lost and
wandered about the prairie all that day
and all the following night. They at-
tempted to secure shelter by digging into
the drifts of snow witli their hands. Re-
alizing that tlieir only liope lay in trav-
eling until the fury of tlic storm abated,
tliey kept on, "going by gness" most of
.the time.
On the morning of the third day from
the time they had left home the weather
cleared and the unfortunate Smith and
Henderson were able to discern the tim-
ber on the Des Moines river. This gave
them new hope and they struggled on until,
about two o'clock in the afternoon, they
arrived at the Wheeler cabin, badly froz-
en and completely worn out. Fortunately
Mr. J. B. Skinner, whose home was up
the river, had just moved down to the
Wheeler cabin and was on hand to ren-
der what assistance he could to the poor
men. Everything was done that kindlieart-
ed neighbors could do. It was found that
one of Mr. Smith's feet was badly frozen,
as well as both of Jlr. Henderson's, whose
hands were also badly frozen.
There was no regular physician in the
settlement and it was out of the question
to attempt to send for one. Both Mr.
Skinner and Mr. Strong bore the title of
"doctor," though neither had practiced
the profession. The latter cared for the
unfortunate men as best he could for
about tliree weeks, when it became appar-
ent that if the men's lives were to be saved
amputation of the limbs must be made
at once. Mr. Strong had only a rudi-
mentary knowledge of surgery, but he did
not hesitate to take tlie only course which
offered a possibility of saving life. Con-
cerning the operation Mr. Jareb Palmer
lias written :
Dr. Stronj; had a large medical work and
a few common drngs but no surgical instru-
ments. However, he seemed equal to the oc-
casion and never seemed to doubt his ability
tij perform the necessary operations and set
about preparing the instruments. He was a
waj^onmaker by trade and had a chest of
tools, and out of these he manufactured some
instruments which he thought would answer
the purpose. The back was taken off a car-
penter's bucksaw, knives and nippers were
made, thread prepared for tying arteries, etc.
He talked freely of the ways and wherefores
of the different steps in the operation.
Finally, everything being in readiness, on
the night before he was to undertake the
operations, he administered to each patient a
large dose of laudunum, as he said, to deaden
the nerves and alleviate the pain. Everything
being in readiness, we repaired to the house
where the patients were staying and proceed-
ed to undertake the unpleasant, painful and
dangerous operations. The doctor had called
to his assistance Mr. Stewart and Mr. Nelson.
1 also assisted by holding the torniquet. It
was about the most unpleasant experience of
ni_v life. However, what must be done had
to be done. With our assistance the doctor
amputated Mr. Smith's leg below the knee,
also one of Mr. Henderson's, but concluded
the latter could not endure anotlier without
a season of rest, so he postponed the further
operations till the ne.xt day, at which time
Henderson's other foot was amputated. Hen-
derson's hands were so badly frozen that he
lost about one-half his fingers. We hardly ex-
pected he could survive the double operation,
but he did, owing probably to youth and a
strong constitution. From the time of the
operation both men seemed to get along as
well as could be expected and they ultimately
recovered. Henderson becoming a minister of
the gospel and Smith a baker in a hotel at
Fort Dodge. Iowa.
It was here in the month of February,
18.57, on the banks of tlic Des Moines and
in tlie midst of these primeval solitudes
and such unpropitious surroundings that
tlic first white cliild was born in Jackson
county. The cliihl was Grace Strong and
was born to Dr. aii.l :\rrs. E. B. N.
Strong."
Of the residents of the Springfield set-
tlement oidy William Wood and Adam
Sbiegley liad any extensive knowledge of
tl:e Indians and their ways; the others
•were igiiorant of Indian customs. None
of tlie settlers had the least fear of the
Indians camped near the whites or of
lliose small bands whicli occasionally pas-
"GracG Strong became a temperance worker
of national prominence and was the author of
"The Worst Foe." a novel of more than ordi-
nary merit. She died at Atlanta, Georgia, in
1S90.
46
IIISTOHY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
seel tlirougli." One siicli band passing
tlirougli liming the winter was led by that
noted cliief Sleepy Eye, who with a few
warriors of his band took dinner at the
home of Dr. Strong. None of these par-
ties had ponies with them as the snow was
too deep for them to travel. Whenever
these roving bands stopped at the settle-
ment the whites invited the red visitors to
share their shelter and food and invaria-
i)ly trnitod them with kindness. Xor did
the Indians appear in worse than their
normal mood.
Iiikpaduta and lii.s outlaw band ]>a<si'd
tlirough the scttlenient on their way south
during the fall niid caiii])ed on the river
bottom near the site of the lower bridge
in Jackson. The members of the band
visited from house to house and were
everywhere received kindly by the settlers,
'•■"The few settlers trusted the friendship of
the Sioux implleitly. ;is they [the Sioux] at
that time boasted that they had never shed
white man's hlood. During the whole winter I
never heard a slnsle expression of fear or doubt
of their friendship." — Jareb Palmer.
who shared with them their scanty fare,
which had previously been transixirted
over many weary miles of trackless prai-
rie. The chief and his warriors were ac-
quainted with the Wood brothers and dur-
ing their stay they bought some goodE
at the store, promising to make payment
in the spring.
The story of the Springfield settlement
has been brought up to the month of
March, 1857, at which time the little
community was still snowliound, but ho))-
ing and expecting that spring would soon
ajipcar so that the work of farming and
iiiipniving their claims might begin. Let
us now interrupt tlie story of events at
Springfield long enough to consider events
that were taking place in other parts of
the country — events which were to jjrove
nf l('iril)le importance to our little band
of frontiersmen, but of which they were at
the time ignorant.
THE NEW YOPK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
*STOn, LE»»OX »»•
TK.CLN FOUNO'Txx«4.
CHAPTER III.
'I'lIE SPIRIT LAKE MASSACEE— 1857.
T(i rJiOl'EKLY unclen^taiul the
conditions that preceded, and the
causes that led up to, the outbreak
of Inkpaduta's little outlaw band of Sioux
Indians, culminating in the massacres at
the Okoboji lakes and at the Springfield
settlement in March, 18.57, it is necessary
to go back to a very early day for some
of our information. WliiK' the Indians
Y\ho participated in the massacres were
Sioux, they were members of an outlaw
band of that nation, and the outrages of
1857 cannot properly be charged to the
Sioux nation.
Except for a brief time during the
war of 1812 the Sioux of Minnesota had
been faithful in their friendship toward
the whites from the time of the treaty
made with Lieutenant Pike in 1805. This
was true with only a few individual excep-
tions,^ which can not be charged to the
nation as a whole or to any individual
tribe. Although all of the recognized
Sioux tribes were on friendly terms with
the whites until the great outbreak of
18G2, in the thirties there separated from
the other tribes a lawless band which were
enemies to all otlier Indians and in time
came to be troublesome to the whites. This
^The Sis.seton Sioux murdered two drovers
near Big Stone lake in 1846: the same tribe
l<illed Elijah S. Terry near Pembina in 1852; a
drunken Indian killed a Mrs. Keener near
Shakopee in 1852.
was the beginning of the band which con-
ducted the horrible butcheries at Okoboji
lakes and at Springfield. The story of the
origin of this band and its early history is
interesting.
During the thirties the greater part of
the Wahpakoota branch of the Sioux lived
in the Cannon river country, and its head
chief was Tah-sah-ghee, or His Cane. Un-
der him was a sub-chief named Black
Eagle, who frequently had a small village
in the Blue Earth country-. Black Eagle's
band was composed largely of desperate
characters who frequently made incursions
against the Sacs and Foxes in Iowa. The
latter retaliated by raiding not only Black
Eagle's village on tlie Blue Earth, but al-
so the main body of the Wahpakootas un-
der Tali-sali-ghee in tlic Cannon river
country.
About 1839 Tah-sah-ghce was murdered
1)y some members of his own band. It
was commonly believed that the murder
was done l)y Inkpaduta ;- at any rate that
warrior was an accomplice. The killing
of their chief caused great consternation
and indignation among the Wahpakootas,
and Inkpaduta and his accomplices were
forced to floe. Thev went to the Blue
inkpaduta. also spelled Inkpadoota. has been
variously translated to mean Scarlet End. Red
End and Scarlet Point. He was born on the
Cannon river about 1800. Mrs. Abbie Gardner-
47
48
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Earth country, where Black Eagle and
his little baud were then located, and took
temporary refuge tiiere. The murderers
were soon chased out, liowever, by the
Cannon river Wahpakootas, who vowed
vengeance. The coming of Inkpaduta and
his fellow murderers broke \ip the band
of Black Eagle and tliat chief with some
of his warriors fled witli Inkpaduta to the
northern Iowa country.
The band was now outlawed and all In-
dian tribes were its enemies. Black Eagle
became chief and led his band to many
adventures and over a large territory, they
seldom comingling with other tribes.
From time to time additions were made to
the band by the arrival of some desperate
character from one of the several Sioux
tribes, who fled his own country by reason
of some crime committed, and fought n f-
nge with the outlaw.-. Among those who
so joined the band nt an early date was
Si-dom-i-na-do-ta,' or All Over Red, who
fled from Sleepy Eye's band of Sisseton
Sioux. Black Eagle was murdered after
he had been chief only a short time and
was succeeded by Si-dom-i-na-do-ta, the
second in command being Inkpaduta.
Wlien the outlaw crew began its career
it is said to have consisted of only five
lodges. The band gradually gained
strength by the acquisition of disorderly
and turbulent characters until at one
time it is said to have numbered above
Sharp, who wns taken prisoner by him. says
hi her History of the Spirit Ijike Massacre:
"As I remember Inkpaciuta, he was probably
fifty or sixty years of age. about six feet in
height, and strongly built He was deeply pit-
ted by .smallpox, giving him a revolting up-
penranoe .and distinguishing him from the rest
of the hand. His family consisted of himself
and squaw, four sons and one daughter. ITls
naturai enmity to the white man. his desparate-
ly bold and revengeful disposition, his hatred
of his enemies, even of his ow*n race, his match-
less success on the war path, won for him
honor from his own people, distinguished him
as n hero, and made liim a leader of his race.
By the whites— especinllv those who have es-
caped the scenes of his brutal carnage, to
wear, within, the garh of deepest mourning,
from the severing of social, parental and filial
ties — Inkpaduta will ever be remembered as a
savage monster in human shape, fitted only for
the darkest corner of Hades."
'Also spelled Sinommlnee Doola.
five liundred and to have had eighty lodg-
es. They were almost constantly at war
with neighboring bands, notably with the
Pottawattoniies, the Sax and the Foxes,
and had several bloody battles with these
tribes.'' This constant warfare greatly re-
duced the renegade band, and when white
settlers began to gatiicr in their territory
tiiey had not tiie pov.cr of former years.
Later wars with tlif Winnebagoes reduced
llicir figliting force still more.
Of all the Sioux bands this was the
only one that made trouble for early day
white settlers, and they were uniformly
hostile to all with whom they came in
contact, fear of punishment being the
only restraint upon their lawlessness.' The
first instance of its hostility to the whites
was in -184G, when the band broke np,
plundered and drove away a party of gov-
ernment surveyors. Two years later an at-
tack was made on another party of sur-
vej-ors under ^Ir. ^larsb. who was run-
ning a correction line acro.ss tlic state of
Iowa.
*Kulton's Red Men of low.a tells of some of
these battles:
"Befoi^ the removal of the Pottawattomles
and the Sax and Fox Indians this liand had
several bloody battles with these tribes. The
most noted of which, and that which proved
most disastrous to the Sioux, took place near
the headwaters of Raccoon river. The Sioux
had waylaid and massacred "a party of Dela-
wares who were on their way to visit their
friends, the Sacs and Foxes, who were then
holding a great dance and festival near tin-
site of the present city of Des Moines. Only
one Uel.Tware escaped. He hastened to the
camp of his friends. An avenging party led by
that noted chief. Pash-epa-ha. then eighty
years old. was soon on the war path. After a
Journey of a lumdred miles they overtook the
Sioux and slew. It Is said, three hundred of
them with a loss of only eight of their own
braves.
"The Knnd also had several battles with the
Pottawattomles. diU' of these took place at
Twin takes, about fifty miles west of Fort
I->odge. :ind another tin the Srtuth l.iziird. In
what is now Wibsler county. The last battle
between IiidiaTi tribes known to have taken
place on Iowa soil was fought In 1852 between
a part of this band and a band of Musquakies.
The battle field Is not far from the present
town of Algona. There the Sloux were again
defeated."
»" . . . ft small band of savages, rene-
gades and outlaws from the Sioux, owing neith-
er alleglence nor obedience to any chief or
band, or other authority, white or red. They
were IshmaelHcs whose hands were against all
other men. anil who were particularly hated by
their own kindred and nation." — Minnesota In
Three Centuries.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
4U
The surveyors of this party had just
crossed tn the west side of the Des Moines
a little below the present site of Fort
Dodge when they were met by Si-dom-i-
na-do-ta and a portion of his lawless band.
The Indians forbade tlic surveyors to pro-
ceed and ordered them back to the east
side of the river, declaring that the land
on the west side belonged to them. After
making this declaration the Indians left
while the whites conlinued with the work.
They had gone but a short distance when
the red men returned and broke the in-
struments and wagons and robbed the sur-
veyors of their horses and provisions.
Marsh and his men then made the best of
their way home.
After this the few settlers along the
Des Moines river were made the victims of
repeated robberies and outrages. Such
conduct on the part of Si-dom-i-na-do-ta
led the government to establish the post
at Foit Dodge, which was done in 18.50.
For a time peace resulted along the Des
^loines, but farther west, on the Eaccoon
and Boyer rivers, the savages continued
their old game. In October, 1852, they
attacked and robbed a family on Boyer
liver and took a young man and young
woman prisoners. A detachment of troops
from Fort Dodge overtook a portion of the
perpetrators of this outrage and made
prisoners of Inkpaduta and Umpa.shota,
whom they held as hostages until the cap-
tives and stolen property were returned.
At another time two or three white pris-
oners were taken l)y the renegades, but
wei'o forced by the troops to release them.
In July, 1853, Fort Dodge was aban-
doned as a military post, the troops going
north and establishing Fort Eidgely in
what is now the extreme northwest corner
of Nicollet county. Minnesota, on the
Minnesota river above New Ulm. Si-dom-
i-na-do-ta and his band were not slow to
take advantage of tlie absence of the sol-
diers and they became very troublesome
to the settlers along the Des Moines, both
above and below Fort Dodge. Eetribution
overtook the red handed leader of this
gang of outlaws in 1854. An e.x'cellent
account of his taking off and the tragic
events which preceded it has been given
by ^Tr. Jareli Palmer:"
There were also wicked and dissolute white
men who lived otf the appetites and baser
passions of the savages. Among these was a
man by the name of Henry Lott, who in the
fall of 1840 was living ami conducting a small
trading station on the Des Moines river a
short distance below the mouth of Boone
river, about twenty-five miles south of where
Fort Dodge now is, and I suppose his principal
stock in trade was "firewater" or whiskey.
Late in the fall of this year a party of
Winnebagoes came to his. place with a span
of Indian ponies which they wanted to sell,
and they finally made a trade with I.ott, who
got the ponies, presumably, for what is usual-
ly termed a song. Lett's family at this time
consisted of his wife, a stepson, about eigh-
teen years old, an own son, thirteen years old,
and probably two or three small children. Af-
ter the Winnebagoes had gone Lott took the
span of ponies and started for Fort Des
]\Ioines to get supplies for liis family and for
trade with the Lidians. A few days after he
went a party of Sioux under Si-dom-i-na-do-ta
came there and demanded tlie ponies, saying
the Winnebagoes had stolen them, and when
told that the ponies were not there they re-
fused to believe it and ordered the oldest boy
to go out and get tl:em. The boy left and
immediately started down the river in the
hope of meeting his stepfather. After wait-
ing an hour or two and the boy not retuin-
ir.g, the Indians oi'dered tlie younger boy to
go and get the ponies, and lie, like his brother,
started down the river to meet his father.
By this time it was nearly night, and dark-
ness soon setting in and a blinding snow
storm coming on, the boy became confused
and perished by freezing to death. The older
boy succeeded in reaching his father and they
scon reached home and found the younger boy
gone. They, in company with some neigh-
bors, immediately started a search and soon
found the lifeless body stark and cold in
death. Lott seems to have taken the loss of
liis son very deeply to heart, and although
there is no evidence of his seeking immediate
revenge, he seems to liave brooded over it and
awaited a favorable opportunity to do so.
In the meantime [in IS.5.3] the soldiers had
been removed from Fort Dodge to Fort Ridge-
ly, and Lott himself, soon after that event,
moved from the mouth of Boone river to
near the mouth of Lott's creek, on the east
''Compiled from Fulton's Red Men of Iowa and
from personal interviews.
50
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
liiancli of tlie Ues Moines river (in Humboldt
loiinty, Iowa), where lie wiis liviiif; in the
winter and early spring of 1854. His wife
had died prcvions to the time and the sniiill
ehildren were given in cliarge of his old nc-ifjh-
hors, only his stepson. Jiow a young man, ac-
companying liin\ to his new liomc. He was
still intent on trading with the Indians, tak-
ing with him a small stock of goods and two
or three barrels of whiskey. I'poii his arrival
he learned that there was a family of In-
dians encamped a few miles above him on
the river and conceived the idea of murdering
the whole family in revenge for the Indians
having unintentionally caused the death of
his son.
So, taking his stepson, he proceeded (o the
Indian camp, which was occupied by Si-dom-i-
i:a-do-la and wife, mother and si.v children.
(In reaching the camp he told Si-dom-i-nado-
ta lliat there was a drove of elk feeding only
a short distance away. The unsuspecting
Indian took his ritle. mounted a pony, and fid-
lowed the white men up on to a prairie, where,
sure enough, there was seen a herd of elk
not far away. The Indian rode gladly away,
anticipating a rare treat in killing a fine
dk and thus replenishing his larder. He had
gone but a few rods when botli men raised
their guns and tired, killing the Indian instant-
ly. They then returned to the cam)) and
proceeded to murder the whole family, as
they supposed, with the exception of one
girl, some seven or eight years old, who sli])-
])ed out under the walls of the tepee and
made her escape. She hid in the bushes not
far away until Lott and his son had com-
pleted their bloody work and left; then she
returned to the tepee and found her relatives
all murdered. However, in looking them over,
she discovered signs of life in her oldest
brother, and, bringing sonu' water, she threw
it in his face and brouglil him to. He had
been knocked in the head with an ax or
hatchet, hut was not seriously injured. The
boy and girl remained two or three days at
the tepee in the hope that some of their
friends would come and find them, but none
coming, they struck out for a family of white
people wliom they knew lived on the west
fork of the Dcs Moines, some fifteen miles
distant. They reached this place in safety
and tohl (heir terrible story. It was not long
until the Indians became aware of the mur-
ders and they demanded that the whites de-
liver Lott and his son over to them, to be
dealt with according to the Indian idea i>f rel-
ribntion.
The settlers for thirty miles or more around
cngageil in a hunt for T.olt and his son, luit
they were nnalde to find them, for Lott well
knew what would be his fate if he fell into
the hands of the enraged red men. So, im-
mediately after committing his atrocious deed,
he hitched up his team and started for Fort
Des Moines. There he joined a party of ilor-
mons who were about to start across the
plains for Salt Lake, and as he bad several
days start before the murders became known
he had no ditlicully in making his escape.
f afterward learned from reliable authority
that Lott finally reached Oregon, at that time
a very sparsely settled territory, inhabited by
several tribes of Indians who waged almcst
incessant warfare against the white settlers.
There he joined a band of Indians and fought
llie whites with his red brethren. After one
of the many lights the whites had with the
Indians, in the spring of 18.">7. in whieh llie lat-
ter were defeated, there was found left among
the dead the body of Lott, it being recognized
by a .vonng man who iiad known him while
he lived on the Dcs Moines. The manner of
his taking off seemed to be the execution of
a not unriglitcous judgment.
.\ftcr tlio iminlec of Si-dom-i-jiii-do-ta
in 1854 Inkparliita became tlie recognizetl
Iciulor of the outlaw Siou.x' and oontinucd
ii])or:ition-: in .sontlnvc^tcni ilinne.sota and
!ioitli\vo<torn Tona, and was very annoj'-
in;r lo the settlers on the frontier.
In July, 1854, there wa.* a l)i<j scare
among the settlers of the whole of northern
'There is a conflict of anthnrlt.v in regard to
tlicse outlaws and esneclally In rcKard to tlieir
leaders. Si-dom-1-na-do-ta and Inkpadiita. Iowa
authorities convoy the iniprcssion that tliero was
at all times only one band, of which Si-dom-1-
na-do-ta was the leader, with Inkpnduta a.s
second in command, and that the latter as-
sumed the chieftanship upon the death of the
former. Minnesota authorities state that after
tlie removal of the Sacs and Foxes from Iowa
ill ISJG there were two hands, one operatlnB in
Iowa under Sl-dnm-i-na-do-ta. while a few-
others remaiiK'd nn the upper Des Moines un-
der the leadership of Iiikpadiita. Mr. lloicoinbo.
in Minnesota in Three reiitiirie.<». very clearly
explains the r.lilionshiii between the two no-
torious outlaw leaders, and calls attention to
errors made by Iowa historians:
■'Now. certain misinformed people have been
led lo bi-lieve that the Siilrit I akc and Sprlng-
fleld murders were perpetrated by the Indians
in rclallntion for the murder of Sintomminee
Dciota fSi-dom-i-ua-do-ta] and his family hy
llenry I.ott and his son. It Is asserted by some
Iowa historians (Ma.ior Williams, before m*'n-
lloiied. seems to have started the story) that
Sintomminee Poota .nnd Inkpadiita were broth-
ers, and that the latter when be sh-w the pco-
l>le at Siilrll lake and riit off thiir heads, dash-
ed out the brains of the Illtb- ones against
trees and houses and ra\ished the women and
Kirls of the Iowa settlement, was merely tak-
ing \'eiijireance for the loss of his brother.
"The truth Is. Inkpadiita was a Wahpakoot.a
Sioux, his family were all memlH'rs of that band,
from sraitheastern Minnesota, while All Over
Red fSi-doni-l-iia-do-tal was a SIsselon. from
the uiiper Minnesota. It Is doubtful whether
Inkpadiita ever heard the parlleulars of ,\II
Over Reds murder: it is certain that he would
not have been concerned If he had. With him
it was every man for himself, he never bad a
si'iitlment so noble and dijinilied as that of
revenpc. and would not turn on bis heel to re-
taliate for the slauchter of his nearest friend.
Of all the base characters amonp his fellow out-
laws, his nature seems to have been the vilest,
and his heart the blackest. ITe murdered his
own people — even those of his own band. He
killed one of his companions to have his wife
In safety."
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
51
Iowa, the trouble originating at Clear
lake, where a party of three or four Win-
nebagoes met a young Sioux alone and kil-
led him. The murderers sought protection
at the homes of two white settler.? at
Clear lake, Messrs. Hewitt and Dickerson.
who had settled there in 1851. These set-
tlers were friendly to the Winnebagoes
and assisted in getting them to a plaee
of safety. The Sioux under Inkpa-
duta were in an ugly mood over the occur-
rence, searched the house of one of the
\\hite settlers, and tlireatened vengeance.
The whites became alarmed and gathered
at the home of Mr. Dickerson. It was
decided to form a company and drive the
Sioux from the neighborhood. According-
ly twenty-five whites, under the leader-
ship of a man by the name of Long, pro-
ceeded to the Sioux camp and demanded
that the Sioux leave the vicinity at once,
whicli the Indians reluctantly agreed tn
do and did.
After having been so summarily driven
from the Clear lake country, Inkpaduta
and liis band returned to his old hunting
grounds on the upper Des Moines and
about the lakes in Dickinson county, Iowa.
They continued to annoy the few set-
tlers along the Des Moines and its tribu-
taries during the summer of 1855. During
the year 1856 they were comparatively
peaceful, and no fear seems to have been
felt by the whites of the older settled por-
tions of the country or by those who push-
ed farther out on the frontier — among
tliem those who came to the Springfield
settlement.
Now, having told of the origin and hav-
ing given a brief history of 'this outlaw-
band from the time of its organization,
let us take a look at it as it was when the
settlement at Springfield was founded in
1856 and then consider some events that
led to tlie terrible massacres in the spring
of 1857. In 1855 Inkpaduta and his war-
riors appeared at the Sioux agency and re-
ceived annuities for eleven persons, al-
though they were not identified with any
regular band or a party to any treaty. They
appeared again in 1856 and demanded a
share of the money to he paid to the Wah-
pakoota tribe. This time they wore re-
fu.«ed and made a groat deal of trouble,
but were forced to return to their haunts
on the Bix Sioux river.* At the time of
the massacre the band consisted of about
a dozen warriors and their women and
children.
After having sjient tlie summer of 185G
in the Big Sioux country, Inkpaduta and
bis band set out on a trip to their Old
luinting grounds and, as has been previ-
ously stated, appeared at the Springfield
settlement in the fall. From their camp
at Springfield they proceeded to the lakes
in Dickinson county, where they fished
and hunted and visited the homes of the
whites settlers, as they had done at
Springfield, partaking of the whites'
liospitality and thus gaining accurate
knowledge of the number in each house,
and making themselves familiar with the
conditions and surroundings. From this
settlement they proceeded to the Little
Sioux river, camping a few days at each
of the large groves.
The Indians spent several days in the
vicinity of the home of the Wilcox broth-
ers, bachelors, who lived on tlie Little
Sioux, and then went down tlic river to
vvhat was known as the Bell and Weaver
cabin, situated near the present location
of Sioux Eapids, and occupied by Mr.
Weaver and his wife and his brother-in-
law, Mr. Bell. From that point they con-
tinued down the river, stopping at each
settlement a few days to hunt and trap
and enjoy the hospitalities of the whites.
They passed the settlements at Peterson
and Cherokee and the few settlers between
'Paper read by Judge Charles E. Flandreau
before the Minnesota Historical Society.
52
PflSTORY OF JACKROX COLINTY.
Iliem until thej- finally reached the town
of Sniithlancl, which was located on the
hank of the Little Sioux, just above where
it merges fnnu the hluli's ;iiiil l\n\\s out
into the wide Missouri bottom. .SmithlMiid
was then a little town of alK)ut a do7.(>n
buildings. It wa-; an older setlleiuciit
than tliose the Indians had before visited
and the whites tiicre knew, or at least had
heard, something of the doings of this
l)and in former years, so they did not e.\-
teud hospitality, as had been done by the
newer settlements.
Ink|iaduta and liis outlaws camped
near the own and i(uinneneed begging
and stealing food for themselves and their
ponies, much to the annoj'ance of the peo-
ple of Smithland. Fort the first time on
the trip the Indians were not received
kindly and for the first time they became
insolent. A number of incidents occurred
which aroused the wrath of the whites
and caused the Indians to become more
sullen and disagreeable." Relations be-
tween the white and red men had reached
this stage when the settlere decided to
order the Indians to leave.
Four or five determined men armed
themselves and proceeded to within a few
rods of the Indian camp, when to their
surprise they found Inkpaduta and his
warriors armed and prepared to fight.
They ordered the settlers not to approach
and when the order was not heeded the
Indians fired their sruns over the heads of
the whites, who then returned to town.
The subject of the actions of the Indians
was discussed and the settlers concluded
•One morning Mr, Smith, the founder of the
town, einisht iin Tiullan steqlinp corn from his
crih nnci nave the redskin n somid cufTinK. The
Indians alleBeil that .tI another time while thev
were In pursuit of ell< they had some dlfflcult.v
with Ihf settlors. clalmlnK that the whites in-
terrupted the ehase. It is .said that nn Indian
was bitten by a dog belonKlng to one of thi'
settlers, that the Indian killed the d"K. and
that the owner of the dog then gave the Indian
a severe lieallnK and took his gun from him.
Another time. It is said, the settlers drove oft
a party of squaws who were stealing hav and
corn.
that they did not care to feed so many
Indians when it was difficult to get
enough food for their own families, and
that notice should be given that they must
leave.. Accordingly all the men gathered
together and went to the Indian camp and
disarmed the band, telling them they
must leave the next morning, and that
they might call for their <nms then. The
Indians did not call for their weapons,
but left without them.
The Indians, who claimed that they
were on their way to \-isit their friends,
the Oniahas, who at that time lived just
across the Missouri river, now changed
their plans entirely and returned over the
route by which they had come. Their
fracas with the ]ieople of Smithland had
put thoni in an ugly temper and they at
once began depredations upon the e.xposed
and scattered settlements, although thev
did not shed human blood until thev were
on the extreme frontier.
At the fir.st house they came to after
leaving Smithland, the occupants being
ignorant of the troubles at the latter place,
the Indians seized the guns of the inmates.
They then rasacked the cabin, taking all
the money they could find and what trink-
ets pleased their fancy. Inkpaduta and
his warriors and squaws continued in a
iKU-lbeastcrly direction toward Cherokee.
Iiel]iiiig thcmselve.s (o provisions and in
some places killing cattle tn supply them-
selves with meat. .Vs the settlers along
this route were from fen to twenty miles
apart, and as the snow was of enormous
deiith, ])reventing trav(>l. one settler did
not know what was happening to his
neighbor, .so each in turn fell easy prey
;o the vagalinnd': and none offered resis-
lence.
Some fifty miles above Smithland was
a little settlement of about a dozen houses,
founded by a colony of adventurous men
from Massachusetts and named Cherokee.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
53
The people of this village had, in some
maimer, learned of the outrages commit-
ted below and had hidden their guns,
provisions and such valuables as the In-
dians would be likely to take.'" This ac-
tion caused the Indians to become very
angry and they threatened to take the
lives of the settlers unless the hidden
property was produced. Only by a nar-
row margin was a massacre averted. The
whites were generally firm and the In-
dians got but little from the settlement.
They had the satisfaction, however, of
killing most of the stock before leaving.
At one cabin in Cherokee three bachel-
ors who lived there did not hide their
gTins, nor did they propose to give them
up. This action resulted in threats to
shoot by both parties and bloodshed was
narrowly averted. When the whites re-
fused to give up their weapons the Indians
cocked their guns and pointed them at the
men, sticking the muzzles almost in their
faces. The whites acted instantly and
brouglit their weapons to bear upon the
reds in the same way. For a time it looked
as though some one would surely get hurt,
but neither party iired and finally the In-
dians lowered their weapons. Before they
left they succeeded in getting hold of one
of the men, dragged him frorh the cabin,
wrenched his gun away from him, and beat
and kicked him severely, breaking several
of his ribs. His companions finally got
him inside the cabin and fastened the
door. This so enraged the Indians that
they fired several shots through the door,
but none of the occupants was hit. The
whites did not return the fire.
""At this place the whites had heard some-
thing of the trouble before the arrival of Ink-
padula and his band, and, I presume, had they
gathered together in one of the log houses,
they might easily have defended themselves
against this small band, but they were in the
midst of an Indian country, and should they
fire upon and kill any of the redskins, it was
supposed that it would precipitate the whole
Sioux nation upon themselves and other de-
fenseless settlers. I might here remark that
. the same idea and feeling prevailed among
nearl.v all the people on the frontier at that
time." — Jareb Palmer.
As the savages proceeded up the Little
Sioux they became still bolder and more
insolent, stealing all the horses from the
settlers, destroying all the property that
was too bulky for them to take with
them, and in several instances ravishing
white women. From Cherokee they pro-
ceeded to Peterson, in Clay county, where
the story of their outrages having preced-
ed them, the settlers had secreted their
weapons, provisions and valuables. But
by bullying and abusing the settlers the
Indians compelled many to produce their
hidden stores, of which the outlaws took
what they wanted. At this place they took
two girls, aged seventeen and twelve years,
to their camp. The younger they released
the next day, but the older girl they kept
in their camp more than a week. When
they were ready to leave the young lady
was permitted to return to her home.
From Peterson the red devils proceeded
to the cabin of Bell and Weaver. Here
they committed all kinds of deviltry, some
so revolting as to be unfit to print. Among
other things, the Indians amused them-
selves by compelling Mr. Bell to stand
against the wall while they threw their
long knives and stuck them in the wall
around his head. After the redskins had
left, Mr. Bell and Mr. and Mrs. Weaver
started out on foot across the trackless
and snow-covered prairie in seeming fu-
tile attempt to reach Fort Dodge, fifty
miles away. After enduring the most in-
tense suffering from fatigue, hunger and
exposure, the fugitives reached Fort
Dodge and were the first to bring intelli-
gence of the dangerous situation on the
frontier.
Major William Williams, of Fort Dodge,
had Ijeen authorized by the Iowa legislature
to take measures for the protection of the
frontier should he deem it to be in dan-
ger. Therefore he at once organized a
company of fifty men and was soon on his
54
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
way to the settlements on the Little Sioux.
Upon his arrival he found that the In-
dians had gone. After learning tlie par-
ticulars of the atrocities committed, Ma-
jor Williams, instead of following the In-
dians, as it would seem it was his duty
to do, gave what relief he could to the
people who had suffered at the hands of
the Indians and tlien returned liome."
From the Bell and Weaver cabin Ink-
paduta and his Indians went to the Wil-
lox lahin, where ihev conlinueil tlieir dep-
redations, hut fortunately there were no
women there. They took three horses be-
longing to the Wilcox brotliore and then
proceeded eastward to the Okoboji lakes
settlement.
Such was the gang of desperadoes ap-
proaching tiie exposed settlements and the
unsuspecting settlers on the extreme fron-
tier at Okoboji lakes and at Springfield.
No warning had they that Inkpaduta and
bis riitnan band, wlio liad been peaceably
inclined on their visit in the fall, was re-
turning in a far different mood, bent on
murder.
The Indians arrived in the vicinity of
Okoboji lakes on the evening of March
T'-' and went into camp near the cabin of
Mr. Mattock, where Arnold's Park is now.
The band consisted of fifteen warriors,
"It is barely possible that Major Williams <1U1
not know that there were white settlers in the
direction in which the Indians had Kone. Mr.
Jarcb Palmer has written of this possibility
as follows:
•On rea.hing the Little Sioux he I.Major Wil-
liamsl found that the Indians liad left, they
having gone In the direction of Spirit lake. The
settlement at Spirit lake was of so recent date
that I presume the major was ignorant of its
existence .ind it is possilile that he had never
• veil heard of Spirit lake itself, as it was only
Just beginning to lie talked al)out."
'=Thls is undoubttdly the date of their ar-
rival an<l is tile one given by Mrs. Sharp. Judge
Flandreau savs thev must have arrived on the
Bth or 7th. R. A. Smith. In his history of
Dickinson county, gives an earlier date and
says: "A letter found upon the ground writ-
ten by Dr. Harriot, dated March B (two days
before tin- mass-irrt t. ri-fi-rrfd Ii) the fact that
the Indians were camped tliere. that they were
on friendly terms witli them and that they had
done .Mome trading with them. Other matters
were referr<'d to in the letter wliich showed
that they had no suspicions of danger." It Is
very probable that the Indians who arrived be-
fore the 7th were members of some other band,
or, possibly, scouts from the renegade band.
including Inkpaduta, with the squaws,
papooses and the u.sual complement of
ponies, dogs and other appurtenances of
an Indian camp. On the morning of the
8th began the awful massacre. No white
pereou knows tlie particulars of the be-
ginning of the butcliery, for at the Mat-
tock home, where it began, all were killed.
The killing of tlie settlers continued for
several days, at tlie end of which time
every white person in the Spirit lake coun-
try, witli the exception of four women
captives, was murdered, while none of the
Indians, so far as is known, was harmed.
It is not my intention to go into the
details of this butchery at Okoboji liikes,
commonly called the Spirit lake mas-
sacre,'^ but to simply give a few facts
concerning it, that liie reader may gain
an idea of the temper of the Indians when
they attacked Springfield. In fact, tlic
only approach to an authentic account of
the massacre is that given by Mrs. Abbie
(iiirdnor-Sharp. and her story is confined
principally Id tlu' events at her father's
jiouse.
When the Indians appeared in the set-
tlement on tlic ludining of JIarch S they
continued the insolent, overbearing man-
ner tliey had employed on tlie Little
Sioux, those of the whites who came in
ccnitact with them noticing lliat they dis-
played tlieir sullcnness and insolence to
an unusual degree. Some of the settlers
became alarmed, but others |)rofessed to
lielieve thai (he Indians were simply in
one of th.'ir pecvi.^h mnods. and scouted
tlie idea of any serious trouble. At break-
fast time an Indian came to the home of
Rowland Gardner, one of the prominent
settlers of the place, and was given his
lircakfast. He was followed by others
"Out of about forty people killed In this mas-
.sacre only one was killed on Spirit lake; the
others had their homes on the Okoboji lakes.
.\t the time the whole lake country of Dickin-
son county was known as the Spirit lake coun-
try; hence the commonly applied name of the
massacre.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
55
until the whole fighting force, including
liilqjaduta and his fourteen warriors, with
tiieir squaws and papooses, were in the
house, and all were fed. Suddenly they
became sullen, demanding ammunition
and numerous other things, and not hav-
ing all their requests granted, attempted
to shoot one of the inmates. They prowl-
ed around the place until noon and then
went away, taking Mr. Gardner's cattle
with them and shooting them on the way
back to camp.
The Indians returned to this home in
the afternoon, took Miss Abbie Gardner,
then fourteen years of age, prisoner, and
murdered the rest of the family. Miss
Gardner (now Mrs. Sharp) has graphi-
cally described the murder of her family
in her History of the Spirit Lake Mas-
sacre, from which I quote :
About three o'cloelc we heard the report of
guns, in rapid succession, from the house of
Mr. Mattock. We were, then, no longer in
doubt as to the awful reality that was hang-
ing over us. Two long hours we passed in
this fearful anxiety and suspense, waiting
and watching, witli conflicting hopes and fears,
for Mr. Luce and Mr. Clark [who had gone
to warn some of the neighbors] to return. At
length, just as the sun was sinking behind
the western horizon, shedding its brilliant rays
over the snowy landscape, father, whose anx-
iety would no longer allow him to remain
witliin doors, went out to reeonnoiter. He,
however, hastily returned, saying: "Nine In-
dians are coming, now only a short distance
from the house, and we are all doomed to
die.'' His first tliought was to barricade the
door and fight till the last, saying: "While
they are killing all of ns, I will kill a few
of them with the two loaded guns still left
in tlie house.'' But to this motlier protested,
having not yet lost all faith in the savage
monsters, and still lioping tliey would appre-
ciate our kindness and spare our lives she
said: "If we have to die, let ns die innocent
of shedding blood."
Alas, for the faith placed in tliese inhuman
monsters! They entered tlie house and de-
manded more flour; and, as father turned to
get them what remained of our scanty store,
they shot him through tlie heart; he fell iipon
his right side and died without a struggle.
Wlien first the Indian raised his gun to fire,
mother or Jlrs. Luce seized the gun and drew
it down; but the other Indians instantly turn-
ed upon them, seized them by tlie arms, and
beat them over the head with the butts of
tlieir guns; tlien dragged them out of doors
and killed them in the most cruel and shock-
ing manner.
They then began an indiscriminate destruc-
tion of everything in the house; breaking
open trunks and taking out clothing, cutting
open feather beds, and scattering the featliers
everywhere. When the Indians entered the
house, and during these awful scenes, I was
seated in a chair, holding my sister's baby in
my arms; her little boy on one side, and my
little brother on the other, clinging to me in
terror. Tliey next seized the children, tearing
them from me one by one, while they reached
tlieir little arms to me, crying piteously for
piutection that I was powerless to give. Heed-
Jess of their cries, they dragged them out of
doors and beat them to death with sticks of
stovewood.
All this time I was both speechless and
tearless; but now, left alone, I begged them
to kill me. It seemed as though I could not
wait for them to finish their work of death.
One of them approached, and roughly seizing
me by the arm said something I could not
understand, but I well knew, from their ac-
tions, that I was to be a captive. All the
terrible tortures and indignities I had ever
read or heard of being inflicted upon their
captives now arose in horrid vividness before
me.
After ransacking the house and taking
whatever they thought might be serviceable,
such as provisions, bedding, arms and am-
munition, and after the terrible scalping knife
had done its terrible work, I was dragged
from the never-to-be-forgotten scene. No lan-
guage can ever suggest, much less adequately
portray, my feelings as I passed that door.
With a naturally sensitive nature, tenderly
and aft'ectionately reared, shuddering at the
^■ery thought of cruelty, you can, my dear
reader, imagine, but only imagine, the agony
I endured when so suddenly plunged into
scenes from which no element of the terrible
or revolting seemed wanting. Behind me I
left my heroic father, murdered in a cowardly
manner in the very act of extreme hospital-
ity; shot down at my feet, and I had not the
privilege of impressing one farewell kiss upon
his lips, yet warm with life and affection. Just
outside the door lay the three children — so
dear to me — bruised, mangled and bleeding;
while their moans and groans pierced my
ears and called in vain for one loving caress
which I was prevented from giving them. A
little farther on lay my Christ-like mother,
who till the very last had pleaded the cause
of her brutish murderers, literally weltering
in her own blood. Still farther on, at the
southwest corner of the house, in a similar
condition, lay my eldest sister, Mrs. Luce,
who had been so intimately associated with
me from earliest recollections. Amid these
scenes of unutterable horror I took my fare-
\\ell look upon father, mother, sister and
brother and my sister's little ones.
Filled with loathing for these wretches
56
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
whose hands were still wet with the blocd of
those dearest to me, and at one of whose belts
still hung the dripping scalp of my mother,
with even the much coveted boon of death
denied nie, wc plunged into the gli)oin of the
forest and the coming nighl; hut neither the
gloom of the forest, nor l!ie blackness of the
night, nor both combined, could begin to sym-
bolize the ilarknes- of niv Unor-strieken
heart.
Another place of butchery was at the
lioiue of Mr. Mattock, where an abortive
attempt at defense had been made. Ap-
parently the whites iiad been in the house,
and the Indians, to drive them out, had
fired the cabin — the only instance in
which a cabin was burned. A few weap-
ons were found near the bodies of some
of the slain men, leading to the belief
that a fight had been made. Mrs. Sharp
describes the scenes at this point as she
remembers them:
A tramp of about one mile brought me to
the camp of niy captors, whicji was the home
of Mr. Mattock, llcre the sights and sounds
that met the eye and ear were truly appall-
ing. The forest was lighted by the camp fires
and also by the burning of the cabins, and
the air was rent with the unearthly war-
wlioop of the savages and the shrieks and
groans of two helpless victims conlined in the
burning cabin, sull'ering all the agonies of a
liery death. .Scattered upon the ground were
a number of bodies, among which 1 recognized
that of Dr. Harriot, rifle still in hand; as
well as the bodies of :Mr. Mattock, Mr. Sny-
der and others, with rilles near them, some
broken. AH gave evidence that an attempt
at resistance had been made, but too late.
A few olliers were murdered during tiie
day, making a total of twenty lives taken
on that 8th day of JMaiLh. In the lan-
guage of Mr*. Siiarp:
All this must be celebrated by the war-
dance — that hideous revelry that seems to
have been borrowed from the lowest depths of
Tartarus. Near the ghastly corpses and over
the blood-stained snow, with blackened faces
and fierce uncouth gestures, and with wild
screams and yells, they circled round and
round, keeping" time to the dullest, dreariest
sound of drum and rattle, until complete ex-
haustion compelled them to desist.
On the 0th the demons completed their
work of carnage in the immediate vicin-
ity by the murder of the four remaining
families and the taking of two more wom-
en prisoners. Mrs. T^ydia Noble and Mrs.
Elizabeth Thatcher. At one home they
seizctl tiie ciiildren by the feet, dragging
tJicm from their mother's arms, and dash-
ed their brains out against an oak tree.
On tlie lOtii (hey bn)ke camp and crossed
West Okoboji lake on the ice, traveled to
the west a distance of three miles, and
went into camp. The savages broke camp
again on the 11th and moved northwest-
cily to tlie Marble grove on tlie west side
(if Spirit lake. Tlicy were ignorant of
the fact that there were any more whites
in the vicinity and did not find it out
until the 13th, when they murdered Mr.
Marble and took his wife, Mrs. Margaret
Marble, prisoner. This was the last butch-
cry in the vicinty and tlu' event was ecle-
b rated by a war dance.
Friim tliis camp on Sj)iril lake, on the
i:Uli, lnl<i)a(iuta and his bloodthirsty war-
riors, with the booty and captives, set out
in a northerly direction and entered Jack-
sou county. They traveled in a leisurely
manner, camping in the groves along the
streams and by the little lakes, never stop-
])ing more than one night in a place, feast-
ing upon the provisions taken from their
victims. During this journey they were
])lanning the attack on the Springfield
settlement and, according to Jfrs. Sharp,
were negotiating with the Indians of Um-
pashota's and Gaboo's cam])S for assis-
t:ince in the work. On the 3()th of March
lanip was pitched on the bank of Heron
lake, some fifteen miles from tlie Spring-
field settlement.
Let ns, for the time being, leave this
led-handed band of murderers at their
camp on Heron lake, making preparation
for future crimes, and again take up our
story of the Springfield settlers as we left
them, anxiously waiting for the opening
of spring.
CHAPTER IV.
THE SPRINGFIELD MASSACRE— 1857.
THE massacre at Okoboji lakes had
occurred without warning; the
settlers there had no inkling that
the redskins were on the warpath. At
Spring-fiekl ample warning Iiad been given.
During the winter the Indians of the
Springfield settlement seem to have
known, or at least expected, that tlierc
was soon to be trouble between Inkpadu-
ta's band and tlio wihtes. Some time dur-
ing the winter Adam P. Shiegley, the
trapper who made his home near the other
whites of the settlement, had asked the
daughter of IJmpashota to marry him, but
she declined his offer, saying that there
was going to be war between the whites
and Indians and that if she were to mar-
ry him the Indians would kill both of
them. Mr. Shiegley did not mention the
fact until after the mas,sacre, and the in-
fonnation would probably have been con-
sidered of little importance if he had.
The first intimation that the people of
Springfield had that there was a possi-
bility of trouble came from a member of
Inkpaduta's band. It was one day early
in March, only a few days before the Spir-
it lake massacre, that Black Buffalo, one
of the outlaw Indians with whom the
Wood brothers were acquainted, came to
tlie store at Springfield when George
Wood and Jareb Palmer were there. In-
stead of going up the river to the Indian
campj as most wandering Indians were in
tlie habit of doing. Black Buffalo remain-
ed at the store and spent the night there.
He came from the direction of Spirit lake
and said the band was camped near there.
The Indian bought a few cheap trinkets
and a half bushel of potatoes, borrowed a
sack to put them in, and promised to re-
turn the sack full of feathers to pay for
liis purchases. Before leaving, Black
Buffalo told Mr. Wood that war had been
declared against the whites and ilr. Wood
told i\Ir. Palmer after the Indian had de-
parted.
Black Buffalo was undoubtedly a spy,
come to investigate conditions in the lit-
tle -;ettlement, but why he told ilr. Wood
of the intentions of tiie Indians is hard to
understand, unless he jjersonally was
friendly to the storekeeper and desired to
give him an opportunity to escape. At
any rate the warning was not heeded. Mr.
Wood seemed to place no confidence in
the statement and treated the incident
liglitly. Mr. Palmer, in after years, wrote:
"I must confess that for myself I regard-
ed it merely a.s an Indian lie, or as we
would call it, a canard, and I do not think
that I ever thought of it again until sub-
sequent events brought it vividly to my
mind."
57
58
llISTOliV OF-TAf'KSOX CorNTY.
On JIareh 9 (the Spirit lake massacre
had ooiiiiiieiuivl tlie day Ik'Toiv) tlireo In-
dians with tlieii- squaws and three or four
papooses, came to the settlcimiit from the
direction of Spirit lake, all appearing to
be very excited, to be in great iiaste and
much fatigued. They came first to Dod-
son's cabin and a little later, after having
been fed, they went to I'lnpashotas camp.
A little girl, seven or eight years of age,
was coniiiletely worn out and fell down
exhausted outside Mr. Dodson's cabin.
She was unable to rise until a scpiaw gave
her several energetic kicks, when she
managed to get up and go into the cabin.
Tlu'se Indians probably came from Spirit
lake alter the massacre had started, either
because they did not want to take part in
it or for some other reason. They said
nothing of the doings at Okoboji lakes to
the whites, although they doubtless told
their red brothers at l'mi)ashotaV.
So far as 1 am able to learn, these were
the only suggestions the people of Spring-
field had that conditions were not normal
— and these could not properly be constru-
ed as warnings, except in the light of
later events — until ^Mardi 11. In this
day of railroads, telephone and telegraph,
with a home on every {piarter .section of
land, such an event as ilic Spirit lake
massacre would lie known in the utter-
most parts of the worhl within a few
hours. Then the butchery of over forty
people less than twenty miles distant was
unknown in the Springfield settlement
until ihrci' clays afterward, and it was
only by chance that they learned of it
then.
On the eleventh of March' tlure ap-
peared in the Springfield settlement Mor-
ris Markliaiii. (ieorge Granger and a (rap-
pi'r, wiiose name is unknown, bearing the
awful intelligence tiial the entire Spirit
'Mr. Hol<-i)mbp. in MiniU'»otn in Threo On-
tiirles. sjiys tlint Mr. Markham did not arrive
In the settlement until the seventeenth, lull in
this tie is mistaken.
lake settlement had been wiped out by
the Indians, that not one was left to tell
of the awful carnage.- Now, strange as it
may seem, this news did not create any
great consternation or alarm at first, and
by some it was not even believed in its
details. Those living on the frontier in
the early days were accustomed to fre-
(pient startling rumor.-, of uprisings which
had no foundation in fact, and all talcs
of Indian atrocities were received w itii al-
lowance for future corrections.
The Wood brothers, 2">i"ticularly, did
lint pliui' full confidence iu the report,
and as they were best acipiainted with the
Iniliaiis, theii' judgmtnt was given due
consideration." George Wood expressed
the opinion that, although most people
laid the Spirit lake murders to the In-
dians, he thought it likely the whites had
got in a (juarrcl over the claims and some
=The Spirit lake mas.sacre wa.s lirst di.<ooveiid
by Morris Markham on the evenlns of Mareh
!• and he Ijore the tidlnB.s to the SprinKlield
settlement. On March l."> the work of the In-
dians was discovered by O. C. Howe. K. l'.
Wheelock and B. K. Parmcnter. who carried
th'^ news to Fon Uodge.
Morris Markiiani was a trapper, who, late In
the fall of 185(;, luul settled in the Spirit lake
country. Soon after his arrival his two yoke
of oxen strayed and he was not able to get ,iny
track of them until early in .March. Mc then
learned that they were in the vicinity of Mud
lake, in lOinnict counl\'. and went after thi'm.
He founil his oxen. ma<le pri>vision for their
care by two bachelors who lived in the vicinity,
and then relurned to his home. There he found
the dead liodies of the settlers, whitm he cor-
rectly believeil ti> havi' been murdered by the
Indians, and his belief was sot>n verilled. U*v
he ran into the In4lian camp. Fortunately he
succeeded in retracinu his steps without at-
tracting the attention of the savages, who were
then In their tepees, and made his escape. He
visited several cabins. In all of which he ft>und
dead bodies. Not feeling like spending tile
night in any of the cabins. Markham took a
piece of lioard with which to build a lire and
siicnt the night in a nearby ravine. He did
not He down during the nigiit. but |ia.s.sed the
wiary liours standing upon his alri'ady frozen
and still freezing feet.
In the morning Mr. Markham returned to a
tr.iiniers' cami> where he had been looking for
his cattle ami there spent the next night. On
the morning of the 11th he and two traiMwrs
went to the cabin of George Granjjer. who lived
about six miles nortli of the present site of
Kstln'rville. The same day Mr. Markham. Mr.
Granger and one of the trapper.^ went up the
river to the Siainglield setllemenl. It Is awful
!■! tliink what might have hapi>ened had not
this warning lieen given.
■"• Besides William had known and
traded with the renegade Sioux. Inkpaduta.
whose band was then reiiorted to be commit-
ti.iK crimes against the whites. ... In ad-
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
59
of them liail been killed."' There seemed
to be somi' plau.sibility for this in that il
was generally known at Springfield that
there had been considerable quarreling
about claims at the lakes.
But the majority of the settlers believ-
ed the story of Mr. Markham and that
the murders at the lakes was the work of
the Indians. The necessity of doing some-
thing for their own safety and of render-
ing aid to any who might be left in the
Spirit lake settlement became apparent
and the whole settlement was aroused. All
of the able bodied men except George
Wood," who remained to care for the store
and to look after the women and children,
gathered at the Granger cabin, down the
river, on the morning of the 14th, intend-
ing to go to the Spirit lake settlement to
the assistance of any who might be alive
and to bury the dead. At Granger's the
party was reinforced by the two trappers
already referred to and a man by the name
of Hashman, making the party fourteen
in number. They crossed the river on the
way to the lakes, and then abandoned the
project and returned to Springfield. They
had talked the matter over and decided it
would not be prudent to make the trip, as
it was impossible to know how manv In-
dians they might encounter. They deem-
ed it best to return and make arrange-
dition to this WiUiam had treated Inkijaduta,
as well as the other Indians, with uniform
kindness, and. indeed, familiarity; such as In-
dulging them in tobacco and joining them in
their amusements occasionally. William, from
his remarkable physical proportions, with dark
features and eyes and hair as black as that of
the Indians themselves, and with his courage
and facility in speaking their language, and Be-
ing well schooled in all their ways, was well
calculated to inspire them with an admiration
for him. They familiarly called him Pa-sa-pa,
which in English means Blackhead; and fre-
quently called to him at his cabin to come down
the river, a distance of perhaps over one hun-
dred yards, to talk and visit them when the
river was too high for fording, as they would
be passing upon their trail upon the opposite
lank of the river," — E.xtract from letter writ-
ten by Mr. E. B. Wood, brother of William and
George Wood.
*Jareb Palmer,
'^There were absent from the settlement Wil-
liam Wood, Nathaniel Frost and Jareb Palmer,
who were on a trip to the Mankato countrj-.
ments for the safety of themselves and
their families.
After returning to their homes from
the trip to Granger's the settlers of
Springfield held a consultation. The ad-
visableness of removing from the settle-
ment was discussed, but it was decided it
would be impossible to move the families
on account of the difficulty in traveling
because of the great depth of snow. Then
it was decided to draw up a petition, stat-
ing the conditions, and send it by courier
to Fort Eidgely, asking that soldiers be
sent at once for the protection of the set-
tlement. The petition was prepared, sign-
ed by the settlers, and was carried to its
destination Ijy Joseph Chiffin and Henry
Trets. They started on their perilous
journey on the 16th or ITth," being ac-
companied as far as the Watonwan by
Charles Wood."
As the days pas.sed the settlers at
Springfield became more apprehensive,
and the suspense became awful. After
the departure of Chiffin and Trets the
settlers began to make preparations for
defense, that they might be prepared if
an attack should he made before the sol-
diers arrived. It was decided that if the
troops did not come the women and child-
ren should be removed to a place of safety
so soon as the snow should melt sufficient
to permit travel. Most of the people gath-
ered in tlie cabin of James B. Thomas and
the Wheeler cabin, while the Woods re-
"These couriers arrived at Fort Ridgely, after
traveling one hundred miles, on the ISth, after
incredible hardships, and almost blind from ex-
haustion and the effects of the snow, and re-
ported the conditions on the frontier. Judge
Flandreau has written:
■■-■Vt any rate the people of Springfield sent
two young men to my agency with the news.
They brought with them a statement of the
facts as related by Mr, Markham, signed by
some persons with who.m I am acquainted. They
came on foot and arrived at the agency on the
18th of March. The snow was very deep and
beginning to thaw, which made the traveling
extremely difficult. When these young men
arrived they were so badly affected with snow
blindness they could hardly see at all and were
completely wearied out."
■ChEirles Wood came back to the settlement
with tlie soldiers, but soon after returned to his
old home in Indiana.
60
HISTORY OF JAOKSOX COUNTY.
iiiained nt their store and Mr. Shieglev
i-ontinued to ociupy his (.al)!!!. The Thom-
as iiousc, whicli was the hirf^cst in the
settlement and wliere were gathered the
greater number, was put in a fair state of
defense.
.\n incident wiiiuli occurred on the 19th
and information secured the next day left
no doubts in tlie minds of the people of
Springfield that Inkpaduta's band was on
the warpath — if any had existed l)efore —
and added to the belief that an attak was
intended. On the afternoon of the 19tli
there came to Woods' store {(Jeorge Wood,
Nathaniel Frost and .lard) Palmer were
there at the time) two of Inkpaduta's In-
dians, l)ig, ferocious lookiug bucks. They
were fully armed and acted strangely,
carrying their knives in tlicir hands all
the tiini" llicy were in the store. They
appeared sullen and not inclined to talk.
They purchased a keg of powder, a sack
of shot and a few Indian trinkets. For
the;ie goods and to settle an old account
the Indians paid !\lr. Wimil .$S-.' in gnhi
coin, which had undoubtedly been taken
from their victims' at the lakes. These
Indians may have come to S])y out the
situation at Springfield or they may have
come witii the intention of murdering
George Wood.*
While the Indians were still at the store
rm])ashota came in and commenced talk-
ing to. or rather haranguing, the strange
Indians. He was greatly excited and ex-
liihited considerable emotion, .seeming so
ahsorheil in wliat he was saying that he
paid little attention to the white men
present, who couhl not understand what
lie was saying. The local Indian liad just
Clime froni the Thomas cabin, where he
had been told the soldiers were on their
•"The.sf Indians had very likely cnmo to kill
GeorKt* Woud. as hv liad !k^«mi staying alone
since thi- departure of his hrother. t^'harlt's. Itiit
as they did not llnd him alone, they eoneUided
to make st)nie purehases for th*' purpose of
disarmlns suspicion, and wait for a more aus-
picious occasion to commit their nefarious
crimes." — Jnreb Palmer.
way to the settlement. One can imagine
that I'mpashota was telling this to the
other liulians and giving them some good
advice. Upon the arrival of William
Wood, who understood the Sioux lan-
guage, the three Indians left, going in
the direction of Uinpa.shota"s cam]i. That
same evening Umpashota and his In-
dians moved from their old camp, just
above the store, farther up the river to
Ciaboo's camp. This move may have been
made through fear that the whites might
do as the Indians were in the habit of
doing — wreak vengeance upon the first
of the race they came upon.
On the '20th, the day after the stiange
IndiaiLs had been at the store. William
Wood went up the river to the eani]i of
(iaboo and rinpasjinta. The latter ad-
mitted that liie two Indians with whom
he talked the day before had been engaged
in the massacre of the peojile at Spirit
lake, but said that those Indians claimed it
bad been a fair fight, starting over a dis-
pute in regard to some hay whicli the red-
skins had taken without leave, 'i'he sav-
ages boasted, so Umpa.«hota .said, that
they had killed over thirty people and
taken four women prisoners without the
loss of a single wairior. The local In-
dian did not say what were the intentions
of the savages as to the future — whether
they were to continue their bloodthirsty
work or whether their Ibiist for Idood
had been satisfied.
Not knowing whether i>r not tiie Indiana
had attaiked the Marbles, who were known
lo have located "on the west hank of Spirit
lake, and desirous of giving warning to
tliem if still alive, llr. Morris Markbam
and Jlr. Jareb Palmer set out from (lie
Springfield settlement on the 21st to in-
vt^stigate. The gentlemen reached the
Marble cabin and found eviilenee that
ll'.e Indians had been there ahead of them,
but did not find (he dead bodv of ^Ir.
THE NEWyork"
PUBLIC LIBRARY,
«TOfi, LENOX AM»
fKOtN F00N£UT1€U)«
Ch '-few
o CAjrvfK
o BfiADSHA W
6
THE SPRINGFIELD SETTLEMENT
Map Showing Location of Cal)ins at the Time of the Springfield
Massacre. The east half of Des Moines and the south
east quarter of Belmont Townships are Shown.
HlSTOliY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
61
Miirblo, wliicli the Indians had buried in
the snow. Mocasin tracks, apparently
only a few hours old, were found near the
cabin and the hieroglyphics picturing the
massacre at the Okoboji lakes were found
blazed on a tree. The gentlemen return-
ed the same day and reported their dis-
covery. Mr. Palmer made a trip to the
Granger cal)in on the 33rd, expecting to
find the inmates murdered, but there ho
found Mr. Granger and the Hashmans
safe and ])repared foi- attack. The find-
ing of these people alive raised ihe droop-
ing spirits of the Springfi^eld settlers and
led to the liope that the liustiles had left
the \icinity anil that they iniulrt yet l)e
spared.
The fighting force of tlie community
was reduced on the 24th by the departure
of Xathaniel Frost and William Nelson,
who went to Slocum's, on the Watonwan,
to try to In'ing in the load of provisions
which William Wood had been obliged to
leave on the prairie near there.
At a conference of tiie settlers it was
decided to organize a party to go to the
lakes and bury the dead, as it seemed to
them almost inliuman to leave the bodies
uncared for and exposed to tlie ravages of
v.'olves and other wild beasts. I'nipa-
shota volunteered, tlirough William Wooil,
to liecfiine one of a party to perform this
duty." It was decided to make the trip
on Thursday, ^Marcli 2C), but on the even-
ing before the start was to have been
tnade the expedition Avas abandoned, large-
ly on the advice of Umpashota. That In-
dian, who seems to have played an im-
portant part in the affairs of the little
community at this critical time because
of his influence over William Wood, liad
been down to the store on the 2.")th and
""The Woods seemed to liave implicit ctmti-
dence in him [tJmpashota] and thought it would
be a good thing to have him go along, but most
of the rest of us h::id less confidence in him and
jirepared to make the trip withovit hi.s presence
— but they did not make this fact known to the
Woods." — Jareb Palmer.
gave notice to Mr. Wood that he would
not accompany the whites to the lakes
and advised against going. He stated that
he thought Inkpadnta's band was still in
(he vicinity of the lakes, engaged in
drying beef from the many head of cat-
tle- they had slaughtered, and that it would
be unsafe to make the trip. Concerning
this advice Mr. Jareb Palmer has writ-
ten: "Why Umpashota told this story is
not quite clear, unless he wanted us to
remain that we might all be massacred,
for he surely knew that the band was at
that time at Heron lake, not more than
eight or ten miles from Gaboo's camp,
where Umpashota was staying." The
Woods refused to accompany the other
settlers after receiving this advice and
the trip was abandoned.
When the morning of Thursday, JIarcIi
2G, dawned it had been Just fifteen days
since word of the massacre at the lakes
had been brought to tlie settlement. They
had been fifteen days of suspense to most
of the settlers, but so long a time had now
elapsed that hope was expressed tliat the
Indians had left the country and that an
attack was not to ])e made. The vigilance
that had been employed at first was re-
laxed to a certain extent ; soldiers were
expected to arrive from Fort Kidgely at
any time; a more optimistic view of the
situation was being taken.
On the fateful day there were eleven
able bodied men in tlie settlement, divid-
ed as follows: William Wood and George
Wood at the store: Adam Shiegley at his
iiwn caljin : Joshua Stewart at his own
caljin :'" James B. Thomas. Jareb Palmer,
David Carver, Jolm Bradshaw" and ^lor-
^"The Stewarts had at the first alarm gone
to the Thomas cabin, but owing to fear, the
excitement and confusion consequent on so
many being huddled together in one small house.
Mrs, Stewart had become mentally deranged,
and she and her husband and children had re-
tiu-ned to their own cabin, where they were on
the day of the massacre,
"Messrs, Carver and Bradshaw had returned
from Webster City a little while before the
massacre.
02
TIISToltV OF .lACKSOX COUNTY.
li- Maikliiun al tiic Tliomas cabin; l^r.
K. H. X. Strong'- an'! J. B. Skinner at
the Wlieeler cabin.'" All the women and
cl'iltlrcu of the settlement, except the
Stewart family, were at the Thomas and
Wheeler lahins. The only house in the
settlement whicli had been put in condi-
tion to withstand attack was tiiat of Mi'.
Thomas.
That •immediate allaik was not antici-
jiatcd is evidenced l>y liie fact that on
the morning of the 5()tii all the men at
the Thomas cabin took their axe.e, went
to the woods nearl)y and cut cniniirh fire-,
wood "to last throuKli the war," as one of
their nund)er expressed it. Their guns had
Iieen left at the cabin, and had the attack
been made during that time thei-e can be
no douljt lliat the twenty people who were
tem])m'arily living at the Tliomas cabin
would all have been massacred. It was
during this morning that ])r. Strong
■arent to the Whcelci' cabin to make a
settlement with Messrs. Smith and Hen-
derson for the surgical operation.*.
To return to the Indians camped at
Heron lake. On tiie morning of the 2(!tli
the warriors painted them.sclves in their
most fierce and hideous fashion. They
took special pains to communicate to the
women captives, by signs and in their
jargon, that they were about to attack
tlie Springfield settlement. With ritlcs
in their hands and with scaljiing knives
in their l)elt.< they set out on their mur-
derous mission. So tar as .\bbie Gardner,
one of the captives, can remember, the
names of the warriors comprising the
band at this time were" Inkpaduta, or
'-Dr. SlroiiK's f;'.mllv w.is at the Thomas ciib-
In: he happened to i)e at the Whepler eabhi at
the time of tlie ma.ssacre.
"Of tile other men who were re.sUlent.** of tlie
seltli-ment :il the time. Rot)erl Smith an<i Ji>hii
Hender.son were \n a eripnied condition at the
■Wheeler cabin: Charles Wood had gone to the
Watonwan: .Toseph CliitTIn and Henry Tret.s
had Kone to Fort Rldiiely to notify the soldiers:
William Nel.son and Nathaniel Frost had Rone
to Slocum's: William Church had been absent
all- winter.
".\s published lu Mrs. Sharp's History of the
Spirit i^uke Massacre.
Scarlet I'oint; ilak-jie-a-ho-inan, or Roar-
ing Cloutl; ^Iak-|)i-oj)-e-ta, or Fire Cloud
(twin to Koaring Cloud) ; Taw-a-che-ha-
wa-kan, or His Mysterious Father; Ba-
ha-ta, or Old Man ; Ke-cho-mon, or Piit-
ting-on-as-ho-walks; Ka-ha-dat, or Ratling
(son of Inkpaduta) ; Fe-to-a-ton-ka, or
I'ig Face; Ta-te-li-da-shink-.~ha-man-i, or
< >iie - who -makes -a -crooked - wind -a.s-he-
walks; Ta-chan-che-ga-ho-ta, or His Great
(iun; llu-.<an. nr One Leg.
]nk]iadut:i and bis warriors came down
to the Springtield settlement by way of
Gaboo's cam]) and halted, a little after
noon, on the east side of the river oppo-
site Woods' store. .Inst what took place
there will never be delinitely known, ex-
cept that both William and George Wood
were murdered, as no whites except the.-ic
two were witiusses. Hut various clews
give us nil idea of thi> circninstanccs. .\p-
parently, William Wood had not even yet
lost confidence in the bloodthirsty demons,
for when they a])peared upon the trail
across the river he started to go to them —
jierbaps in answer to a hail — as was his
custom. While on the river liank be was
shot from behind at close range with
biick.<hot. Whether be had cro.<sed the
river and talked with the Indians and was
shot as ho returned or whether he was
shot by Indians concealed in tlic grass on
the west side, is not kimw n. So close had
been his murderer ibat burnt ]iowdcr
stains were afterward found upon his
clothing. .\ficr the shooting the body
was cut o))eii with a tomahawk (U' a knife
from i)etwecii the shoulders, down the
back, to lielwi^n the hips.''"'
(ieorge Wood, fnun his position in the
store, hail seen his brother shot down anil
had started to nin to warn the other set-
tlers and to seek protection for himself.
"The conduct and actions of the Wood broth-
ers, particularly William Wood, during the days
of suspense before the massacre have at times
been unfavorably cfunmented upon. The Woods
did not join the other settlers in their efforts
to fortify one or two of the cabins, but re-
iriSTOHY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
63
He succeeded in getting^ across tlie river
on the ice, but, exhausted from running
several hundred yards through tlie deep
drifts, he sought a place of concealment
and crawled under a lirush pile at a point
a few rods from the river bank and some
twenty or thirty rods above the location
of the ]irescnt upper bridge in the village
of Jackson. This point was near the In-
dian trail, upon whicJi the Indians were
running in jnirsuit, but liecause of a bend
in the trail, surrounded by trees, brush
and weeds, he was temporarily out of
sight of his pursuers. The unfortunate
man was soon found in the lirush pile
and shot. So c'ose was the muzzle of the
gun that tlie whole top of his head was
blown off and powder stains were left on
his cap.^°
mained at the store, where aU their earthly
posses.sions were. Believhig. as they certainly
did. that the massacre of the whites at Okoboji
lakes was the result of a quarrel and that the
murders would not be continued, the.v saw no
reason why they should desert the store. Of
course, we can now see their mistake; their
confidence in the red men led to their death.
One or two of the settlers who did not lik"
the Woods pretended to believe that they were
over friendly with the Indians, that they be-
lieved that e^"en if tlie other settlers were at-
tacked, their friendship would save them. Ma-
jor Williams, of the Iowa volunteers goes so
far as to intimate treachery, saying that the
Indians were informed of the contemplated
arrival of the soldiers by Wood and Gaboo. I
can find no evidence that would indicate treach-
ery on the part of the Woods and believe that
they were sincere in their actions.
Mr. E. B. Wood, who often talked with his
brother, Charles Wood, after the massacre and
who made every effort to ascertain the- facts,
wrote to Mr. Jareb Palmer under date of No-
vember 23, 1S97, as follows:
"I do not and never did lielieve that George
or William ever gave information to the' In-
dians of the coming' of the soldiers. I believe
that my brothers watched and expected each
hour of the later hours of their lives for tlic
soldiers to come, that they aimed to let the
Indians believe that they trusted them implic-
itly, thinking this safest. Now, my friend
and comrade, for forty years myself and my
family have had our hearts pained not .inly
Ijy the thought of their deaths and the dam-
nable manner of their taking off, but mainly
by this story of the possible treachery of my
brothers in telling these Indians of the coming
of the soldiers so as to receive benefits and
safety for themselves to the possible damage of
the other settlers. My brothers were noMe
hearted fellows and I do not think them capable
of this and I do not think there is a particle
of truth in it. That Gaboo. the half-lireed, may
have told them is possible."
'".Another version of the killing of George
Wood is to the effect that after he was shot the
Indians piled brush on his body in an effort to
burn it, but the best evidence points to his
taking off as I have described it.
After the killing of the Wood brothers
the Indians replenished their stock of am-
munition from the store and then pro-
ceeded to attack the other inhabited cab-
ins of the settlement. At the Thomas
cabin, where were gathered the greatest
number of settlers, a determined fight
wa.s put up l)y the white men (with the
possible exception of the Mattock caliin
at Okoboji lake, the only place in either
settlement where the Indians met with
resistence) and they succeeded in standing
off tlu' redskins. This was due to the prep-
arations tliat had Ijeen made and to the
fighting qualities of tlio men and women
there."
After the midday meal at the Thomas
cabin all wlio were temporarily living
there were sitting in the north room talk-
ing, while two of ;\Ir. Thomas" children,
aged seven and ten years, were ])laying
in the yard. xVbout half past two o'clock
Willie, the younger of the boys playing
outside, came running into the house with
the announcement that an Indian was
coming down the road fi'oni the \\'hi'(']-
er caliin, which was to the north. .\s the"
people of the cabin were hourly expect-
ing the return of Jo.seph f'hiff'in and Hen-
ry Trets friiiii Fort Kidgely. some one
of the party exclaimed, "I'll bet it's Hen-
ry," meaning Heni-y Trets. From their
location in the nortii room, the door of
which faced the timber, the people could
not see anyone coming from the direction
^'The Thomas house stood on the edge of
tlie timber, being surrounded on thi-ee sides by
woods full of logs, ijrusli and stumps of trees:
on the other side was prairie. Within six or
eia-ht rods of the cabin were a log stable, an
old fashioned hay rack for feeding stock and
a cattle yard made of logs and poles, A log
partition divided the cabin into two rooms,
connected by a door: at opposite ends of each
room was a fireplace. The south room had a
door and a window, both facing the prairie,
while the north room had a door and a window,
facing the timber, and a window looking upon
tlie prairie. The window on the timber side
had been secured by nailing two thicknesses
of oak stakes across it. leaving a space about
four inches wide to serve as a port hole: on
the prairie side the windows had been co^'ered
with shutters that could be taken out and put
in as occasion required. The doors were fasten-
ed witli pins stuck in holes in the logs.
'34
][IST()1!Y OF JACKSON' COT^XTY
indicated without goiug out doors. S<t
tlicre was a rush for tho door. Miss
Swanger, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Palmer and
Mr. Carver went outside, wlicre the two
boj-s still were. Jliss Swanger was the
first one out and when she got to a point
where she could see the person approach-
ing she cried joyfully, "Yes, it's Henrv."
But when Mr. Carver got out wliere he
had a good view lie ri'iilicd, "No. it"s an
Indian."
No sooner were the words out of his
mouth than a tremendous volley, fired
at short range from rifles and shotguns.
was poured into the little company in
front of the house; th.c Indians liad crawl-
ed up and hidden themselves behind trees,
outbuildings and other ])laees of conceal-
ment. Little Willie Thomas was killed
instantly. James Thomas received a mus-
ket ball in his left arm just below the el-
bow, which broke both bones and made
necessary the amputation of tlie mcnd)er.
David Carver was wounded by a buckshot,
wliich passed through the fleshy part of
his arm above the elbow and penetrated
his lung. Jliss Swanger was wounded by
a rifle ball, which passed through the
upper part of her shoulder, inflicting a
])ainful but not dangerous wound. Of
those outside. 5Ir. I'almer and the older
Thomas boy were the only ones unharm-
ed : it is a wi)nder that all were not killed,
and can be accounted for oidy by the
poor markman.ship of the Indians.
.-Ml succeeded in getting into the cab-
in, those who had received wounds being
unaware of the fact until they were in-
side. .Mthough the surprise had been
complete there was no confusion. Each
seemed to know instinctively what" was to
i)e done and commenced doing it. Had
the Indians followed their first volley with
a rush they woidd probably have succeeded
in massacreing tiie whole houseful with
little, if any, loss to themselves. The
doors and windows were closed and bar-
red, while Mr. Markham and Mr. Brad-
shaw, who had remained in the house,
seized their rifles and commenced firfng
at the Indians, whose guns could be seen
])rotruding tlirough the hay rack. The
battle was on.
1 shall let ilr. Jareb Palmer, one of
the defenders of the cabin and the his-
torian of the ma.ssacrc, tell of the inter-
esting events that took place in the Thom-
as cabin during the next hour:
At first I l)iisicil myself in lianioadinp tlic
south room. .tiuI. as the shutters for the win-
ihiw ill this room liad unfortunately t>een left
on the outside, we had to improvise Ponictliin}!
in its place. For this we used a talile and
some eliairs. llaviiif; altendcd to this, I seized
a ;;un. of which, fortunately, we had )deiity.
and looked around for a place to pet a shot
at the redskins, but found no chance, as they
seemed to be all on the southwest side of the
house, and there was no |)orthote in citlier
the south end of the house or the west side
of the south room. I seized an ax which was
in tlie room and knocked out a piece of chink-
inj; from lietween the lojjs on each side of
the fireplace in the south end of the house. I
watched the hole on the west side of the fire-
place and tlie Thomas hoy the east side. It
was not until I had completed these prepara-
tions for defense that I learned the full ex-
tent of our loss, and my heart fairly bled for
Mrs. Thomas.
When we rushed into tlio house at the In-
dians" first fire we diil not notice that the
Thomas boy was killed, and when he wu~
niisseil and we ascertained that his holy lay
ill front of the door, the lamenlatiiuis of his
mother were truly heartrending:, llcr husband
was seriously wounded and blecdiuf; pri>fiiscly.
her boy killed outside, and she was not able
to have even the poor consolation of haviii;;
his body hroupht into the house, for it would
have been certain death for anyone to ven-
ture out to pet it. Mr. Thomas and Mr. Car-
ver were soon obli^eil to lie down, but Miss
Swanger continued to render all the a.ssistanci>
in her power and never once laid down dur-
ing; the time we were in the house.
.•\s it liappencMl. we had jilenty of guns and
aiiimiinitinn and kept busy lihiziuR away at
anything we could see that looked like a face
or a hand, a glili or a pine of blanket, anil I
assure you we burned a lot of powder and
made a big noise wiielher we hurt anybody
or not. The Indians continued to fire volley
after volley at the house, some of the balls
coming through the door, wc jiroteeting our-
selves by taking up a portion of the puncheon
lloor and standing it against the door. At
only one time did 1 have a fair view of any
HiSTOi^Y OF jackso:n" county.
65
of tlu' ?uvflj;us, and tliat \v;is (limlitlfss utter
they liad confludod to abandon the attack.
Then I saw three at one time witli their backs
toward tiie house and going as fast as tlieir
logs would carry tlieni. and I was able to get
only one shot at tliem before they were out
of sight. As my duties kejjt me busy in the
south room I didn't know much about what
was going on in the north room except as
I could hear the crack of the guns in the
hands of Bradshaw and Markham.
However, I passed into tliat room two or
tliree times during the tight, once, I remem-
ber, to make a porthole in the end of the
house, and once to get a supply of ammuni-
tion, as the guns and ammunition were all
kept in that room. Once wlien I was in there
I saw. Mrs. Church fire through the east win-
dow at what she said was an Indian, and she
said she s.iw him fall." Tliis was no doubt
the one first seen by the boys,- as he was in
nearly the same ])lace as that one when seen.
I suppose I ought to tell you that after
the e.Kcitement caused by the surprise had
-omcwhat abated, some of the ladies be-
thought themselves of the arm that is all-
powerful to save and engaged themselves in
earnest supplication to Him for help; and as
tliere seemed nothing better for them to do, I
think we were all glad to see them thus en-
gaged, for I am sure none of us had much Ii0|)e
of ever leaving the house alive, as we were
but three able bodied men. contending, as we
supposed, against the whole Sioux nation, anil
Mith but faint hopes of any human help be-
ing able to reach us.
After a while — probably an hour after the
attack was begun — the fire of the enemy be-
gan to slacken, and then we saw sticks and
clubs fiying in the air toward the three head
of colts which were kc]it there. In this way
the Indians succeeded in driving them up the
road and out of sight of us people in the
house. They accomplished this without ex-
posing themselves to our view. We had no
thought at the time why they had done this,
uidess merely to see the horses run; but, as
it afterward proved, they were about to aban-
don the attack and took this way to get the
horses out of our sight that they might
(atch them and take them away.
I presume the Indians left soon after, al-
though Vi'e had no thought they were going
to abandon the attack, and when the fire
abated we supposed they w-ere lying in wait
for some of us to e.xpose ourselves that they
might shoot us down. Notwithstanding the
fire had abated, we did not abate our vigi-
I;ince, liut continued to watch through the
|)ortlioles for lurking savages, expecting mo-
nienlarily a renewal of the attack with larger
force and in some tmexpected manner. But
the fire finally stopped entirely. The Indians
had slunk away as secretly and silently as
they had come; but we had no idea they had
gi'ne until just before nightfall, when we saw
"It was afterwards learned that none of the
Indians was wounded.
someone coming from toward tlie Wheeler
cabin.
We at first supposed it to he an Indian
and were holding ourselves in readiness to
f.re as soon as he came within gunshot, but
before he came near enough to fire we discover-
ed it was a boy dressed in white man's clothes.
We still thought it might be another trick to
draw us out of the house, so we remained in-
side and hallooed at him through a porthole.
He answered us and upon inquiring who he
was, he told us he was .lohmiie Stewart. We
called to liim, opened the door and took
him in. He was friglitened nearly out of his
v.its. and well he might be.
llnring the tiiiip that tlie attack on tlie
Thomas eal.iin was being made other
members of the onthiws were meeting
with better success in another part of the
settlement. An Tmlian came to the home
of Mr. Stewart, ^\•llo seems to have been
ignorant of tlie attack on the settlement,
and was liargaining for tlie purchase of
a small hog, displaying a number of gold
coins to be gi\-en in payment. Mr. Stew-
art was shot down and killed hx otlier
Indians wlio were lying in wait for him.
His wife, who had been sitting in a chair
in the house, holding the liaby, rushed to
the door with the baby in her arms and
with a three year old child clinging to
her skirts. On reaching tlie door she was
shot down and the baby and little girl
were knocked in the head with tomaliawks.
While the iiiotlier and two little children
wt're lieing murdered, little Johnnie Stew-
art, seven or eight years of age, slipped
out of the house and eluded the Indians,
hiding licbind a log, three or four rod.s
from the cabin, where he remained until
tlie Indians had completed their atrocious
work and departed. Then he came out
of his hiding place, viewed the dead bod-
ies of his parents and little sisters, and
made his way to the Wheeler cabin. In-
side he heard voices, and, supposing the
cabin was full of Indians, the little boy
left and ^\•ent to the Thomas cabin, as
lias been .stated.
The Wheeler cabin, which was occu-
pied at the lime of the massacre by Dr.
m
llls■|•()l;^ <iK .iA( KsoN ((II \rv
K. B. N. Strong, J. B. Skinner. Uoljcrt
.Smith, John Henderson. Mr.*. Skinner.
Mrs. William Nelson and baby, Jlrs. Rob-
ert Smith ;in(l Mr. Shiegley's two year old
boy, had not been put in a state of de-
fense, but it was fortunately located, be-
iuiT on the edge of the prairie. There
were no shutters for the solitary window
of the cabin, wjiich, however, fortunately,
faced llie praiiie. nor luul any |iiirtholes
been made. The Indians ajijjcared at the
cabin, (ired sovcial .-hots Ihroujjfh the
door, iiiit did nor make any dcli'i-iiiincMl
attack. The bullets passed throujrh the
thin boards of the door and into the wall
opposite, one of then; barely missing "Mt.
Henderson. .Vn ox was killed near the
caijin and the '■est of the stock was driven
off. Neither Dr. Strong nor .Mr. Skin-
ner, the only able bodied nu>n there, lired
a shot from the cabin. It is said the in-
mates attempted to j)rotect themselves by
ringing bells and beating (Ui tin pans,
which seems to have answered the jiur-
pose, for no one was injured.
The cabin of Adam Shiegley was not
attacked and that gentleman knew noth-
ing of the attack until later in the day,
wlien he went to the Thomas cal)in. He
was much surpri-sed to learn of the fight-
ing.'"
The bloody work was completed and
the Indians i-clurned to llicir caiiiii near
"Altlioiigli Mr. Shiegley did not leuni of Ihc
tight until afttT it w:is over, he was Inclined to
give evidence in regard to It. a.s well a.« every
e\ent of which he had heard, and he often
made himself the hero of startling situations
In lSti5 he is reporl'^d to have said to a report'
for the Mankato Morning News:
"... When the Indians attacked Ih'-
[Thomas] hous" they must hav<' erosseil the
river not a hundred yards from where I was.
But I couldn't s*'e them becatise there was a
bend In Ihi- river li<-tween us. Tlie Hrst thing
I ktiew was when 1 heard Ihem yelling and the
shooting. Then 1 ran up (he hank, which was
thickly wooded, and lay d<iwn liat on nij' face
In the snow. Thi'ie were al)oul twenty of the
Indians yelling and dancing and tiring into
the house. Tliey didn't care ahout the people
in there, though. What they wanted was the
four horses In the stable and they Just flred
to keep the folks Inside. . Well, I saw
them olT and out of the way and then I went
up to the house."
Heron lake. t)wiiig to the knowledge that
llie Indian.s were on the warpath and the
determined tight |)ul up by the men and
women of the Thomas cabin, the results
were not nearly .so di.-astrous as they liad
been at the lakes. For the first lime in
the Indians' mad career .since leaving
Smithland they encountered men who
were not afraid to tight for their lives,
and the ailcmpl to wijie out the settle-
ment failed. .\t that, only at the Thomas
cabin was any resistence made, and but
for the opposititdi they encountered there,
there can be in> doubt the Indians would
liave persevered unt'l every white in the
settlement was killed. But, iialfled in
their attem]it to ■nias>acre those in the
Thomas house, ignorant of the damage
tlieir first volley had done and of the
weakness of the fighting force left, anx-
ious to take p'lrt in the looting of Woods"
store, perhaps fearing the early arrival of
the soldiers, they gave up the attack.
The losses in the Sjiringfield settlement
were :
K 1 I. I. K l»
William Wood
George Wooci
Joshua Stewart
Mrs. Joshua Ste'wart
Two Stewart Children
Willie Thomas
>« o I' >° I) ■•: II
James B. Thomas
David Carver
Drusilla Swanger
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
67
It is iiiiposjiible to say just how many
Indians were engaged in the massacre —
probably not more than the fifteen of
Inl<j)aduta"s Ijand.-" It is not probable
that Umpashota and his Indians took part
in the actual killing, but there can be no
ipiestion that that nominally friendly In-
ilian assisted Inkj)aduta in his designs
and preparations. Nothing more was
seen of Umpashota or any of his Indians;
they had gone to more congenial climes.
Concerning the part this crafty Indian
may have taken in affairs, Mr. Jareb.
I'aliiier lias written :
-^Major "William Williams, the leader of the
Iowa volunteei'.s. among .several other mistake.s
in matters of fa."!t and conjecture in his official
report, says of the number of Indians taking
part in the Spirit lake and Springfield mas-
sacres:
"As near as I could ascertain, the Indian
force was from 150 to 200 warriors, judging
from their encampments, etc. The number of
Indians must be fifteen or twenty killed and
wounded. From the number seen to fall killed,
and judging from the bloody clothes and clots
of blood in their encampments, the struggle
at the lakes must have been \ery severe, paitic-
ulaii,\' the one at the house of Esquire Mat-
tock. ... I am satisfied that the greater
number of these Indians were from the Mis-
souri, as they were strangers to the settlers
where they appeared, and a portion of them
were half-breeds."
Major Williams seems to have prepared his
report with very little data to work from.
"It has been reported that tlie Indians
who had camped near the settlement dur-
ing the winter were engaged in the at-
tack and massacre at Springfield. Wheth-
er this is a fact or not I am unable to
say. Some of those in the Thomas house
with me say tiiey saw and recognized Um-
pasliota, but I did not see any Indian that
I could recognize as one I had ever seen
before. When Captain Bee arrived Um-
pashota and his liand were gone and he
found some of the goods that weje taken
from Woods' store in the possession of
Gaboo's Indians, but they claimed to have
bought them of Inlqjaduta's Indians, and
this mi.ght have been the ca.se, as Mrs.
Sharp says when the Indians returned
from tlie attack, they brougiit eleven
hcn'ses and ponies with them, and I know
they only got three from the whites at
S])ringtield, so that it may be that Ink-
paduta's band had traded goods for pon-
ies. I have never since seen any of the
Indians with whom I became aci|uainted
diii'ing that winter"
CHAPTER V.
FLKillT OF TIIK FUGITIVES— 1857.
Till'] Jinliaiis bad done their liel- Woods" store, this little band of defenders
lish work ;;ik1 returned to camp now thought that they were the only ones
near Heron lake. The settlers sjiared. Although they assumed that the
did not know that they had gone, how- Indians bad gone for the time being, they
ever, believing them tn be still in the
neigbltorbood, awaiting a favoralile op-
portunity to complete the work of butch-
ery. ,\11 the living persons in the Spring-
field settlement were now gathered at the
Wheeler and Thomas cabins. The peoj^le
at each house believed that all the others
had no iloubt they were still in the set-
tlement, ready to I'euew the attack as
soon as sutliciontly reinforced or when a
favorable opportunity offered.
So the vigilance maintained during the
attack was not lessened. The men and
women in the cabin continued to watch
bad been killed and that they themselves through the portholes for lurking sav-
were the only living whites in the settle- ages. From what tliey knew of the cliar-
ment: each party considered the case al- actev of the enemy they had reason to
most hopeless. The story of their flight suspect that the silence was only a scheme
and tlie hard.ships they endured has sel- to draw the defenders out. The women
dom been equaled in frontier liistory.
When little Johnnie Stewart arrived
at the Thomas cabin the garrison there
wei'c led to believe that the savages had
left llie iiiiinediate vicinity. When a lit-
fli' later .\dani Sliiegley was seen going
:uross the prairie from his cabin toward
the Wheeler cabin and, in response to a
hail, came to Mr. Th.omas' place unharm-
ed, the belief was verified. Fi'oni the
Stewart ])oy"s account of the killing of
his family and his report that ilie Wheeler
cabin was full of Indians, and from the
aiinoiincement of ^jr. Shiegley that he
had heard tirina' in the direction of
of the party prepared something to eat
and passed it to those who were on watch
at the portholes, and these ate their .sup-
jier out of their hands. WHien darkness
rame on they feai'i^l lo keep a fire or light
in the house.
The situation of the beleaguered people
aiul the possibility for deliverance were
discussed. Some thought best to remain
at the cabin in the hope that the soldiers
from Fort Bidgely would soon appear, be-
lieving that it would be better to remain
behind the .sheltering logs of the cabin
than to risk an encounter with the red-
skins in the open. Others (and they were
b9
vo
IIISTOUV OF .TAf'KSON COUNTY.
in the niajoritv) favored flifrlit. Those
who most .■;tron<rlv favored ik'partinf; ar-
jjuod tliat there was no ecrtaiiitv lliat re-
lict' would ever eoiiic ; il Uii.- not kiin«n
wlielher the eouriers had siieeeeded in
leaehing Fort IJidgely. and if thev had
there was no assurance that tiieir story
Wduhl he iielieved or any lielji sent ; tliey
feared the Indians wouhl ereep up durinj,''
the niglit ami lire the cabin. To realize
the litter demoralization tlie people m\ist
have hecn in to attcmjit tlijrht. let us look
at conditions and try to iindeistand what
such a decision meant.
The nearest scttleM;ent that could pro-
vide safety was .Mankato, seventy-live
miles away. The |)oint next nearest that
seemed to ollVr a reiuiic was Fort Dodj^e,
Jowa, nearly a luuidred miles away. The
snow was so deep ami tra\elinu so dill'i-
cult that it seemed impossii)lc that a
team could make any headway. Of the
twenlv oi- more people who com])riscd the
jiarty contemplatini; (liirht, only four were
ahle-hoilied men; the rest were wonien,
children, l)abies and wdimded men. Be-
lieving, as they did, that the Indians were
still in the vicinity ami determined to
wipe them out. not knowing how many
savages they might have to encounter,
handicapjjed with so many incapacitated,
knowing that the route was well nigh im-
passible, it is hard to conceive by what
process of reasoning these people decided
to leave. But that is what was done. As
many of tJie settlers liad originally come
from the vicinity of Fort Dodge, that
was (he point of refuge .^elected.
As the Indians had not killed the cat-
tle at the Thomas place, and as the snow-
had settled somewhat during the preced-
ing few days, it was decided to try tra' idl-
ing by team, allliough few thought there
was much hope of getting Ihnnigh. Jolin
Bradshaw and l'"rap.k M. Thomas, the
elder son of James B. Tlmmns. were the
first to venture from tiie cabin. Tiiey
went out to the barn, so lately occupied
hy the savages, hitched the oxen to a sled
an<l drove up to the cast door, whidi was
the one facing the |.rairie.' The wonien,
children and wounded men were hastily
loaded into the sled, the dead body of
Willie Thomas being left where it bad
fallen, and at nine o'clock in the evening
the refugees set out on the perilous jour-
ney. No baggage, no i lothing except what
was worn, no provisions were taken. Tlie
only thought was to get away from the
scene of the disasters of the day.
Great haste, was made at the start to
get out onto the prairie away from the
timber, tlie fear being great that the sav-
ages would return and shoot them down
before they could get out of gunshot from
the timber's edge. Altbongb the day had
been fair and pleasant, there came u]) a
I hick fog about dark, which nnide it im-
|>ossililc to see more than a few feet away.
Over most of the course it was necessary
for the men to beat a path before the oxen
could make any headway.
.\fter having traveled in this nnmner
for a couple of hours the fugitives became
(•om])letely hewildcred and knew not in
which direction they were going. It was
then decided to stop and wait for dav-
liglit. They found a knoll which was
hare of snow, and there they unhitched
the oxen and ])assed the rest of the night.
There was no rest for this poor, cold,
■'rhis l.s Kivin on the aiithoilty of Mr. Pnlmer.
Mis. Sharp Rives tln' cniUI or |)prforining this
st-rvloo lu M^irris Markhatn ami says:
"Naturally no oiio wlshcil to be the first to
venture outside the door, where little Willie's
liody lay cold In death, the sad reminder of the
consequence of a former ventiu'e. Rut some
one must be the first. So. with true heroic
courage characteristic of the man. Mr. Mark-
hani volunteered to jjo to the stable, where the
murderous Sioux had so lately been and where
they perhai>s wi-re secreted, and hitch the oxen
to the sb'd and brlnj^ them to the door, whibr
thi' others made hasty preparations for fll»?ht.
So, alone In the darkness, he sallied forth, over
the blood-sl.alned snow, carrylnpr his Kun to
fire as a signal should be find the enemy there.
Rroped his way through the stable, silently
brought out the patient oxen, put on the yoke,
hileheil them to the sled and drove up to the
door."
niSTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
71
sleepless and panic-stricken band of fugi-
tives that niulit. When morning dawn-
ed thev i'ouiid themselves to be about
three miles. troni their starting point and
not much out of their proper course. The
fog had disappeared and no trouble was
now encountered in keejjing a true course.
'I'hey could see the different groves along
the river, including the one at Granger's,
where they wished to strike first.
Tlie snow |)io\cd lo be so deep tiiat the
oxen could scarcely pull the heavy load
of those unable to walk and about noon
the cattle became so e.xhausted that they
could not proceed farther. It was then
proposed that J\lr. Palmer should go on
to Granger's for help while the rest of the
l)arty camped with the team. Mr. Palm-
er reached the Granger cabin in safety,
stated the conditions to Mr. Granger and
ifr. llashman, and those gentlemen start-
ed back with their oxen to the assistance
of the Springfield refugees.
The three men had not proceeded far
on the back track when they saw some
])ersons on the prairie approaching from
the direction of Springfield. They were
too far away to make out whether they
were Indians or whites, but the men pro-
ceeded on their way. After a while tliey
noticed that one was nearer than the rest
of the party and that he was running for
dear life, going in the direction of the
Granger grove. Believing him to be an
Indian and fearing that if he reached the
Granger caljin lie would massacre the
women, who were left without male pro-
tection, ^fr. Palmer and Jlr. Hashman
started out on a run to head him off.
Mr. Palmer outran 'Mv. Hashman and
succeeded in getting between the fleeing
man and the grove. When he got within
hailing distance the runner, who prov-
ed to be Dr. Strong, liallooed to Mr.
Palmer, giving the friendly salutation of
the Sioux lauKuage. The doctor had mis-
taken Mr. Palmer for an Indian and so
had accosted him in, perhaps, the only
Sioux word he knew. When he had first
come in sight of the men he had taken
them fiu' Indians, and had pulled off his
boots and thrown tliem away that he
miglit run the faster.
Dr. Strong joined the other men of
the party, who now anxiously awaited
the coming of the people they saw in the
distance. These proved to be the fugi-
tives who had been left with the team.
After Mr Palmer liad departed they saw
a party of people pursuing them, whom
they, of course, took to be Indians. Life
is a precious thing to most people and
the sight of approaching Indians — as they
supposed — caused them to make an al-
most superhuman effort to escape. Aban-
doning the oxen and sled, all set out on
foot in a mad plunge through the drifts
toward Granger's. Messrs. Carver and
Thomas, the most severely wounded,
found themselves able to walk ; tJie men
and women carried the children.
The fugitives were again united, their
force having been added to by Dr. Strong,
ilr. (Granger and Mr. Hashnuin. But
they did not consider themselves safe by
any means. There now came into view
the party of five or six persons who had
so alarmed those left at the sled, but they
were too far away to tell whether they
were friends or foes. So the refugees
held themselves in readiness for action
should they prove to be Indians. Fear
lends fieetness to the limbs and in a short
time the party came up. They proved to
be Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Smith and
Mrs. Nelson with her year and a half old
babe — a part of those who had been at
the Wheeler cabin.
Ijct us interrupt tlie story of the ttigjit
long enough to tell what had happened at
the Wheeler cabin. The night after the
massacre had been spent in apprehension
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
and terror; in the morning the situation
was not relieved. Dr. Strong, one of tlie
two able-l)odied men in the cabin, who
hail pruvcd liiiiiscU' a liero in caring for
the frozen men a month before, now prov-
ed himself a veritable coward. During
the forenoon of the day after the attack
he began to worry about his family, who
had been at the Thomas cabin, and. tried
to get someone to go down to try to as-
certain their fate. Finally he declared
lie could stand the suspense no longer and
that he intended to learn the fate of his
family. He left the house with the avow-
ed intention of going to the Thomas cab-
in, but no sooner was he out of the hou.se
than his valor dejiarliMl ami he struck out
across the prairie, running for dear life,
without a thought, apparently, for the
safety of his family or niiyniic else except
him.self.
The desertion of Dr. Strong left the
people of the Wheeler cabin in a deplor-
able condition. There was now left only
J. 1-5. Skinner to care for and protect two
ci-ippled men, three women and two siuall
children. He was nnt e(jual to the oc-
casion. There can be no (|ucstiiin that
the acliiin of Mv. Skinner and llie wnnuMi
there on that 'i7t\\ day of ]^larch was cow-
ardly. Perha])s their actions should be
treated with lenitv and a less harsh term
Ihan ciiwani aji|ilie(l. t'lu- no one knows
exactly what he or she woidd do in a
like circumstance; the fear of death in
most of us is stronger than any other hu-
man emoti(Ui. The occasion called for
heroic action, but there was no response.
Whetiier the dcserfion of Dr. Strong
increased the fears of the reuuiining in-
mates by reas{ui of lessening their num-
ber and making tlTem more easy victims
of the savages, or whether his ability to
get away from the tindter unharmed de-
termined them also to make the attempt
is not known, but it was decided to make
a swift run for safety in an effort to get
to the Iowa settlements. As the Indians
liad killed all the cattle on the place it
was necessary to go afoot. Poor John
Henderson, who was in bed with both feet
olT from recent amputation, was aban-
doned to whatever fate might overtake
him, even without preparation being made
for his food. Mrs. Nelson said she could
carry her child and did so. One of the
party also carried the Shiegley child for
some distance. Robert Smith, who only
a short time before had one leg ampu-
tated, decided to accompany the others
and stumped along on his one leg for a
few hundred yards of the distance to Fort
liodge. His wound soon began to bleed
nnd he was unable to go farther.
When Mr. Smith was obliged to give
M]i, the party grew tire<l of carrying the
Shiegley child and the two — a man in
such condition that he ought to have been
in bed, and a two year old child — were
al)andoiu'd to their fate on the snow-
covered prairie." The reader may in im-
agination realize the feelings that surged
through the breast of this poor victim left
to his fate by one who was sujiposed to
be bound to him by ties .stronger than the
fe.ii- nf death — the wife who, to save her
own life, must abaiuum her husband to
what ajipeared almost certain death. Mr.
Smith and the little boy crawled to the
Thomas vabin in the hope of finding some
line to care for them, but in this, of
course, they were disappointed. They re-
mained in the cabin until fouiul by the
soldiers from Fort Kidgely.'' After the
al):indonment the party, now consisting
of >rr. and Jfrs. Skinner, Mrs. Nelson
and child and Mrs. Smith, proceeded on
-Mr, Holcombe, In Minnesota In Three Cen-
Imirs. snys: "Smlth'.i wife wished to remnln
with her hiisbnnd. but ho bmlo her save hersi-lf.
siiylnK that she could do nnlhln); that would
bo of so much service to him as to hurr.v for-
ward to tile Iowa settlements and send him re-
lief."
"The Shieglev child was adopted into the
-fomil.v of Major William Williams.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
tlieir way aiul joineil the other refugees,
as has been related.
The newcomers told of their adventures
and of the abandonment of ^Ir. Smith
and the Shiegley eliild on the prairie. Up-
on learning the particulars, Mr. Shiegley
at once declared his intention to go back
to take care of his boy, the love of his
child overshadowing the fear of his own
danger. The rest of the party tried to
dissuade him, but to no avail, and after
having been wished a hearty Godspeed,
iie set out for the north at about the mid-
dle of the afternoon. So well satisfied
were the fugitives that the Indians were
still at Springfield that they expressed
the belief that they would never again
see Mr. Shiegley alive.
It is to be regretted that no reliance
can Ix' placed in tlie statements- of this
man, for he might have left recorded
much of, historical value instead of the
improbably stories he did leave. He re-
turned to the settlement and visited the
Wheeler cabin, but did not find his boy
or Mr. Smith, and came back to join the
refugees. He spent the night with Mr.
Henderson in the Wheeler cabin, and be-
fore he left the next day cut a piece of
meat from one of the oxen slain by the
I'cdskins and carried the meat in to the
wounded man that he might not starve.
He stated that he visited the Thomas cab-
in ill liis search for the missing boy, but
if lie had he surely would have found
him.''
After Jlr. Shiegley left, the fugitives
proceeded to the home of Mr. Granger
to seek much needed rest after the terri-
ble suffering incident to the trip. Food
was supplied and tlien the thirty people
*Mr. Shiegley also told of having met an In-
dian in the settlement. He said that after hav-
ing a talli with the Indian both agreed to turn
their backs and walk away without turning
around to look at one another. Mr. Shiegley
said he broke the agreement by wheeling sud-
denly and shooting the Indian in the head, re-
marliing that the aborigine "Jumped like a rab-
bit with his head cut off."
endeavored to get a night's sleep in the
one small room the cabin boa.sted. Some
were able to lie down, while others were
obliged to .secure their rest in whatever
position the conditions afforded. The
next day, the 28tli, Mr. Markham and Mr.
Palmer went back and brought in the
oxen, which were found quietly feeding
on the dead grass within a few rods of
the sled.
The Springfield refugees remained at
the Granger cabin that day and the next
night, getting a much needed rest and
awaiting the return of Mr. Shiegley. On
Sunday morning, March 29, they set o.ut
again on the way to Fort Dodge. The
snow had by this time melted sufficiently
to leave many bare spots, so the sled was
left and two yoke of oxen were hitched
to Mr. Granger's lumber wagon. The
wounded, women and small children were
loaded into the wagon, and all, including
(jcorge Granger and the Hashman family,
set out on the supposable long journey,
most of the party going afoot. With
fatigue and suffering they traveled all
day. The wounds of those shot by the
Indians had not been dressed, and, in-
flammation having set in, every motion
of the wagon caused excruciating pain.
Of tills day's trip Mr. Palmer has writ-
ten :
The snow liad settled so mucli that we did
not have much diflficulty on account of the
drifts, but all the small ravines and sags
were filled with shish two or three feet deep,
wliich had to be w;rded by those who walked.
Some two or three of the women and all of
the men were compelled to walk, as the oxen
were not able to haul all of the women even.
It was heartrending to see the poor women
]>lunge in and wade the cold slush, sometimes
nearly to their waists; but when it is life or
death we can make heroic efforts to save the
former.
Only twelve or fifteen miles were made
tliat day. Camp was made on a slight
elevation of ground on the bank of a
small lake near Mud lakes, in Emmet
county, Iowa. There were a half dozen
74
HISTORY OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
small, scrubby oak trees wliich were cut
down for lirewood, tbe branc-hos being
use<l for bi'ds. Tbe ground was covered
with water from the melting snow and the
accommodations were anything l)ul lom-
fortable. A fairly restful night was pass-
ed, however, and on the morning of the
30th the journey was resumed. 1'luit day
was a repetition of the preceding one so
far as discomforts were concerned. In
addition, the party now began to feel the
pangs of hunger, for they had had notli-
ing to eat since leaving the Granger cabin,
excepting a handful or two of sugar; all
the vituals had been consumed while stay-
ing at the cabin.
About three o'clock in the altci-uodu
the refugees sighted a party in the dis-
tance in the direction in which they were
going, and again did the terror-stricken
people believe that lluy were to be at-
tacked by Indians. The guns were ex-
amined and preparations nuide for a light.
Six men of the party went ahead to in-
vestigate, leaving one man with tbe team.
To their great joy tiiey found the party
to be the advance guard of an expedition
recruited by tlic people of Fort Dodge and
vicinity to come to the relief of the fron-
tier settlers.'^ The point of meeting was
near tlie north line of Palo Alta county,
-The Sprlnfrfiolcl refugee."! were, of course, ig-
iiorant of the comnip of this expedition; they
(lid not even Itnow tlint new.-; of the trouhle on
the frontier h,id been r.Trried to the Iowa .•sel-
tlemenls. On the 1-llh of Maroh. when the
Springlield settlers had Kathcrod at Granfter's
to go to the lakes, a Mi". Hashman.. father of
the young man mentitined* iti the text, lieeame
alarmed and set out on foot for Fort Hodge.
There he told the story of the Spirit lake mas-
-sacre as It had been related by Mori'is Mark-
ham, but he being a stranger and having his
Information second hand, very little credit was
given to the story by the people of Kort Dodge.
The news of the massacre was confirmed In
that Iowa town on the 32nd. when O. C Howe.
R. U. Wheelock and H. I'. Parmentcr came in
and reported what they had foinid at the lakes
on thr l.Slh. Tile people wi'r<' still skeptlcjil.
but after these men had sworn to liielr state-
ments they bestlred themselves.
'riie direful news created Intense feeling.
Tliree cnmp.'inies of vohuiteers were quickly re-
cruili'd in Fort Poilge. Webster t'ity and Hom-
er, and on the 25th. under command of Major
William Williams, they set out for tiie frontier.
The.v proceciled up the Di\s Moines river, and
after terrible hardships came upon the Spring-
field refugees on the afternoon of the SOih.
Iowa. The advance guard was under the
command o( William Church, a Spring-
field settler and the husband of one of
tbe refugees. The joy of the hungry,
weary, bleeding fugitives on meeting the
volunteers was indescriiiable. Xot until
then, IVom the time of attack, liad they
foi' a moment felt safe from their foes.
Tliey knew that bad tiicy been attacked on
the route they would have fallen an easy
jirey.
The main body of volunteers, consist-
ing of about 115 men, soon came up. The
refugees accompanied them to tlieir camp,
four or five miles away, and for the first
time since early in the morning of the
day before had something to cat. Dr.
Bisscll, the surgeon with the volunteers,
dressed tbe W(ninds of Jfr. Thomas, Mr.
Carver and Miss Swanger. As tiie injur-
ies had liecn received four days before and
had gone that lengtli of time without sur-
gical attention, the wounds were in bad
condition and were terribly inflamed. All
lemained in the camp of tlie .soldiers tliat
night. The next morning ^lajor Wil-
liams made the neicssaiy ari-angements
for the cai'e of the wounded and the wom-
en and childivn. .Vccompanied by Messrs.
(iranger, Ha.shman, Strong and Skinner,
they went to the "'Irisli colony," a few
miles below, and in course of time arriv-
ed safely in Fort Uodge and other Iowa
towns."
or tiie refugees, Messrs. Bradshaw,
.Markham, Shiegley and Palmer did not
go to the Iowa towns, Imt joined the vol-
unteers.' They became memliei's of a
scotifing ])arty and scouted over (]uite a
"The fallacy of some of Major Williams' con-
clusions Is illustrated in the following from his
rcfiort of the expedition:
".Vbout eighty miles up we met those who
had escai>ed the mass,aere at Sprlngfleld.
Tliey were about exhauste<l and the Indians
on their trail pursuing them. Had not our
.'couts discovered them and reported, there can
lie no doubt they would have been murdered
that night."
■J. Grimth and William Church were also
former Sprlngfleld residents who had joined
111'- \-ninnt.'i'rs .-it Ihe linn- of reeriiiting.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
75
large tract of territorj-. Although they
found fresh Indian signs, they were un-
able to run across any of the savages.
The main body of the volunteers jiro-
ceeded north to the .Granger cabin. There
they learned that United States soldiers
had arrived at Springfield, and they de-
cided to return home, and after detailing
a party to bury the dead at the lakes, they
departed. Some of the former Spring-
field settlers who had joined the volun-
teers went up to the camp of the regulars
and assisted in straightening -up affairs
in that disordered settlement.
Let us now consider the part played
by the United States soldiers from Fort
Hidgely, whose coming had been so anx-
iously awaited by the people of Spring-
field, and whose earlier arrival would have
saved seven lives and prevented the hard-
ships endured by the refugees.
When Joseph C'hiffin and Henry Trets
arrived at the lower agency with the peti-
tion on the 18th of March, Agent Charles
E. Flandreau was fully satisfied of the
truth of the report that murders had been
committed* and took prompt action. He
at once drove to Fort Ridgely, fourteen
miles distant, and conferred with Col-
onel F. B. Alexander, of .the Tenth in-
fantry, then commanding tlie post, which
contained five or six companies of that
regiment. Witli commendable ])rompt-
ness Colonel Alexander ordered D com-
pany, commanded by Captain Bernard
E. Bee, with Lieutenant Alexander Mur-
ry second in command, to be ready to
start for the scenes of the trouble at once
for tlie purposes of protecting the set-
tlers and to punish the Indians.
Captain Bee received his orders at nine
o'clock on the morning of March 19, and
within three and one-half hours he was
on his way with forty-eight men, trans-
])orted in sleighs drawn by mules. It was
"Speech of Charles B. Flandreau at unveiling
of Spirit Lake monument in 1895.
found impossible to march tlie troops in
a direct line to the scene of the outbreak
on account of the difficulty in traveling
tlirough the deep snow with the army
wagon and mules. The route traversed
was down the Minnesota by way of New
Ulm to Mankato, and thence up the Blue
Iilarth and Watonwan to Isaac Slocum's
cabin, a few miles southwest of the pres-
ent town of Madelia. It was hoped to
find a trail from that place to the exposed
settlements, but for the last forty or fifty
miles of the journey it was necessary for
the soldiers to break a road for the muleb.
Agent Flandreau and his interpreter,
Pliilander Prescott, accompanied the
troops as far as Slocum's; then, believing
it useless to proceed farther, they turned
back. At Little Eock a half-breed guide
named Joseph LaFramboise, who was well
acquainted with the country, was secured,
but it was almost impossible for him to
follow a road or trail covered with four
feet of snow.
So great were the difficulties of travel
that Agent Flandreau advised Captain
Bee to turn back, also, stating that he
would justify such action before his com-
manding officer. Captain Bee was a
plucky officer, however, and replied: "My
orders are to go to Spirit lake and to do
what I can ; it is not for me to interpret
orders, except to obey them. I shall go
on until it liecome physically impossible
to proceed farther."'-' So the plucky cap-
tain continued on hi« way. At Slocum's
the command was joined by Nathaniel
Frost. William Nelson and Charles Wood.
The little command waded through
snow drifts up to their waists, often cut-
ting through them with spade and shovel;
extricated mules and sleighs from sloughs
and drifts: dragged sleighs up steep hills
and over l>are spots ; marched in close
rank through the deep snow to break a
"Charles E. Flandreau in The Inkpaduta Mas-
sacre of 1857.
76
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
road for the teams; were up from early
inoruing until late at night; camped, ate
and slept in the snow. It was after such
a trip as this, on the evening of March
28, nine days from the time he had start-
ed from Fort Eidgely and two days after
the butchery at Springfield, that Cap-
tain Bee at the head of his command ar-
rived at the trading post of Gaboo and
the little Indian village there.
Gaboo and his Indians professed friend-
ship for the whites,'" and the half-breed
was employed as guide." He gave the
information that Inkpaduta and his In-
dians had cleaned out the Springfield set-
tlement and had retired to their camp on
Heron lake. Learning this, Captain Bee
decided to pursue the Indians at once,
although his men were nearly exhausted
from tlie long and wearisome journey.
With the sounding of retreat on the even-
ing of the arrival Captain Bee called for
twenty volunteers to start early the next
morning for the Indian camp, and the
whole company ])romptly stepped for-
ward.
So, early on the morning of Sunday,
Mardi 29, the whole force of soldiers, ac-
companied by the two half-breed guides,
set out for Heron lake. The teamsters
accompanied the soldiers, leading the
thirteen mules of the company for nse in
case the Indians attempted flight. Guided
by Gaboo, they went straight across the
country to the site of the recent Indian
camp, which they surrounded. Said Cap-
tain Bee in his report: ''The camp was
there with all its traces of plunder and
rapini^ — books, scissors, articles of female
**It has been allesed lli.it the soldiers found
goods nt Gabno's camp tliat had come from the
settlers at SprlngHeld. Of the charge that
GabOD's Indian wife was seen wearing a shawl
belonglnR to Mrs. Church. Captain Bee said it
"only existed in the imagination of one or two
settlers." He stated that all the Indian squaws
were robed In Indian blankets.
""We i>rocured two lialf-breed guides. ,Toe
Coursalle. Vietter known as Joe Gaboo. an<i Joe
I.aFrambolse, both of whom I knew well .and
felt no hesitancy In trusting on such a mission."
— Charles E. Flandreau at Spirit Lake monument
unveiling In 1895.
apparel, furs and traps." The marks of
seven tepees were found. Although this
camp liad been deserted at three o'clock
tliat same morning (the soldiers reached
tiie place in the afternoon) the half-
breed guides were of the opinion that the
camp was two days old.
From this circumstance some have
formed the opinion that Gaboo did not
want the soldiers to continue tlie pursuit
of the Indians and that he deceived the
officer in command. Captain Bee did
not think so at any rate, for in a com-
munii-ation to the Pioneer and Democrat
of St. Paul of May 14, 1857, he said:
"Gaboo was in front of my men, his dou-
ble-barreled gun in his hand; iiis whole
demeanor convinced me that he had come
out to fight; his life, he told me, had .been
threatened by the Indians."'
Tlie guides pointed out anotlier grove
four miles to tlie northwest, where they
.-aid the Indians might be. Lieutenant
Miiriy took ten men and Gaboo and
.•^cardicd the grove, but found no Indians.
I'poii receiving this report from the lieu-
tenant. Captain Bee, believing that the
Indians were two days' march away and
knowing that liis men were in no condi-
tion to make, a long campaign, decided
that under tiie circumstances he would
give up the pursuit. This he did and
the command returned to the Des Moines
rivcr.'-
Now, a.- a matter of fad, the soldiers
were within a very sliort distance of the
Indians on this trip and created great
alarm among the savages. To get a fhor-
ougli understanding of the events that
Hucieedcd the massacre, let us keep the
company of the Indians for a while.
The looting of Woods' store was a
great event with the savages and the war-
riors returned in triumph to the camp
'-'Major William Williams, of the Iowa volun-
teers, with his usual careless handling of the
truth, said of this campaign of the regular
soldiers:
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
77
uear Heron lake, loaded down with plun-
der. Mrs. Sharp says the Indians re-
turned after an absence of two days.
Camp was then moved from a small lake,
believed to be Boot lake, to the creek near
the south end of Heron lake." The In-
dians brought with them as a result of
the raid twelve horses, heavily loaded with
dry goods, groceries, powder, lead, bed
quilts, wearing apparel, provisions, etc.
The whiLe captives were informed that
(he Indians had been rejjulsed. but were
given no particular? of the fight, except
the statement tliat only one white wmnan
had been killed.
The return of the savages to camp is
interestingly told by ]\Irs. Marble, one of
the captives :'^
Perhaps you rememljer that wliile w^ were
"On Friday, in the afternoon, the troops from
Fort Ridgely arrived, all well mounted on
mules. Those troops lay at Springfield all day
Saturday and assisted in burying the dead.
Their officers counseled with the half-breed.
Gaboo, who was the only one unharmed, and
known to be acting with, and identified with,
the Indians, and whose squaw (he is married
to a squaw) was at the time wearing the shawl
of Mrs. Church, with other arHcles taken from
the citizens. Said ■ off icers lay over from Fri-
day evening till Sunday morning without pur-
suing or making any effort to overtake the In-
dians, who, they must have known, had taken
off four white women as prisoners.
"On Sunday morning he, the commanding of-
ficer, set out on their trail, and followed them
half the day, finding their campflres. overtaking
three or four straggling squaws, let them go,
and finding all sorts of goods thrown and
strewn along their trail to lighten their load
and expedite their flight. When he could not
have been over half a day's march from them
he stopped and returned the same evening
(Sunday) to Springfield. When he ordered the
men to return, they expressed a wish to foi-
low on, and said they would put up with half
rations if he would allow it. His reply was
that he had no orders to follow them.
"On Monday he set out for Spirit lake to
bury the dead, etc. He went to the first house,
that of Mr. Marble, found one dead body, bur-
ied it a!id returned to Springfield.
"It is certain such troops, or rather, such
officers will afford no protection to our troubled
frontier settlers. Think of his conduct! His
men, all well mounted, turning back when he
was not a half day's march off them; they
loaded down with plunder and horses and mules,
and carrying off with them four respectable
women as prisoners."
"Heretofore it has been generally believed
that the Indian camp was on Heron lake when
the attack on Springfield was made, but the
camp at that time was doubtless on what is
now known as Boot lake. The camp was mov-
ed to Heron lake immediately after the return
from Springfield. Early settlers of Jackson
county reported finding large quantities of
boots and other goods from the Woods store on
the bank of this lake; hence the name.
camped at a little lake the Indians went to
Springfield and massacred the people and
robbed the place. 1 do not know the name of
the lake, but I remember it was surrounded
witli large oak trees, in which there were a
number of eagles' nests. I do not know
whether you recollect their arrival in camp
that evening or not, but I remember it well,
and so long as reason retains her throne I
shall never forget it. It was just about sun-
down, and I had stepped out of the tent, when
tlu-ougli the opening of the oaks my eyes
caught the sight of a long line of dusky ob-
jects coming across the prairie. A .=econd
glance and I recognized the Indians of our
camp. They came single file to the number
of some twelve or thirteen. Each one led a
horse, which with their drag-poles, on which
they carry their loads, made a long line of
men and horses. The horses were loaded
with all kinds of goods and plunder. It was
evident a dry goods store had been robbed.
For, if you remember, each Indian wore a
full suit of new. dark clothes, and with the
r.ew dark cape drawn closely down over their
brows they presented a singular and really
gloomy appearance. Many of them even wore
new gloves. They brought blankets, grocer-
ies of all kinds, and whole bolts of prints.
I with my own hands made up dozens of
garments of the calico; dresses for their pa-
pooses and shirts for the men, as well as
dresses for the squaws. They had also, many
of them, a young animal strapped to tlieir
horses. I soon perceived that they were
yoimg calves. You doubtless remember they
feasted about this time on veal cookeii witii
die hair and hide on.
Mrs. Sharp also tells of the events in
camp after the arrival of tlie warriors
from Springfield :
Among this plunder wei-e several bolts of
calico and red llannel. Of these, especially
the flannel, they were exceedingly proud, dec-
orating themselves with it in fanta.-ilic fash-
ion. Red leggings, red shirts, red blankets,
and red in every conceivable way, was the
style there as long as it lasted. Could any-
tliing have amused me in those sad days, it
would have been to see their grotesque at-
tempts to wear the habiliments of the whites;
especially the attempts of the squaws to
wear the tight-fitting garments of the white
women. Thej' would put in one arm. and
tlien reach back to try to get in the other;
but. even if they succeeded in getting both
arms into the sleeves at the same time, tliey
were too broad shouldered and brawny to
get the waist into position or .fasten it; so
after struggling awhile they would give it up
in disgust. They were altogether too much
tlio shape of a barrel to wear the dress of
white women. So they cut off and threw
"Letter from Mrs, M. A. Silbaugh (formerly
Mrs. Marble) to Mrs. Sharp, dated February
25. 1S85. and published in Mrs. Sharp's History
of the Spirit Lake Massacre.
78
IIISTOIJY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
away the waists and made the skirts into
loose-fit tiiij,' sacks after the si|uaw fasliion.
All this anuisid them greatly; they would
laugh and cliatter like a lot of "monkeys.
In the midst of tiie celebratiou of the
sacking of Woods' store and the murders
at Springfield came an alarm that the
soldiers were coming. The wildest ex-
citement prevailed. The squaws at once
e.\tinguislied tlie fires by pouring on wa-
ter, tliat the smoke might not be .■^een and
that the asli heap.s would not have a fresh
appearance if the soldiers came upon them.
T! e tents were torn down, the good.-; lias-
tily packed, and all proceeded down the
creek upon wliicli tliey were camped.
While the description of the camp ns
remembered by Abbie Gardner, the cap-
tive, is rather indefinite, it is believed to
have been on the little creek which flows
into the extreme south end of Heron
lake, just northwest cf the present village
of Lakeficld. She says the camp was on
low ground and by a small stream of wa-
ter, and that there was a high rolling
prairie close by, and this corresponds with
the high land upon which Lakeficld is
built. Some rods from the camp, so Miss
Gardner said, was a large tree, to wliidi
an Indian crept. From the brandies of
this tree tiie warrior watched tlie move-
ments of the soldiers and reported to his
comrades. This would seem to fuitlier
establish the location, for it is highly
probable that the tree mentioned is the
famous ''Txine Tree," still standing a
short distance from Lakeficld and visible
for many tniles.
"When the alaini v,as given (he savages
jirepared tlieraselves for attack. First
they discharged their guns into the earth
to empty them of the loads of fine shot,
firing into the eartli deadening tiie sound ;
then they reloaded with liullets. The sav-
ages hastened down the creek, "skulking
like partridges among the willows," as
the ciptive-historian expresses it. One
warrior was detailed to .stand guard over
the four women prisoners, with instruc-
tions to kill them if an attack was made
i)y the soldiers. 1 quote again from Jlrs.
Sharp's hvstory :
"The excitement manifested by tlie In-
dians for a little wiiil<! was intense.
Alter an liour and a half of this ex-
citing siispi'iL^e. in wjiicli the S(juaws were
skulking in the willows, the sentry watch-
ing from the tici'-tnp, tlie warriors lurk-
ing among the openings of the willows
on the banks of the stream, and we cow-
ering beneath the muzzles of the loaded
rilios — a sudden change came to us. The
soldiers, it seems, just here decided to
turn back."
Such was the situation of tlie Indians
that the soldiers, had they followed the
trail, would not have discovered the pres-
ence of the enemy until in their midst —
and then they would have discovered it
with a volley. The captives wouM sure-
ly iiave been murdered. But events did
not so siiape themselves. The half-breed
guides were either deceived themselves or
they deceived the officers, and the sol-
diers turned back. After the turning back
of the trcxips, the Indians did not hesi-
tate a moment, but set' out in all haste
for the west.
On the return from tlie )iursiiit of (he
Indians. Captain Bee and his command
Went diiwn the river to Springfield, aiul
on Jloiiday, Jlarch .'iO, the dead bodies of
the victims were buried. It was found
llia( all the goods had been carried away
from (lie store. William Wwid was bur-
ied near where he was found, on the west
bank of the river, just above the old ford,
the exact spot being now unknown. The
soldiers failed to find tlie body of George
Wood, which was concealed in the brush
]iile, but it was subsequently found and
buried near the sjiot where he was killed.
The Stewart family and Willie Thomas
were buried near the Stewart cabin. In
-
<!*$;:..:
, /^-
■4 ^ ■
- _N
V 3 %^ i ''■ '
<.
W--
^^O^Nf^
\
^^^
^wtf
]
r
}
^1^
■
Mhh
1
E^fll
■H
I^^^^^^^^^H
1
HjH^^^R^
^^^|H
|H^^H
1
^^Hfe
^^i
1
^^^^^^^^B
••LONE TREE"
Historic Landmark Near Lakefleld.
-r^.oitt FOUND*-""
HISTORY OF JACKSONT COUNTY.
79
his report Captain Bee said : '"'It was one
of the saddest moments of my life when
I saw the Stewart family dead by their
cold hearthstone, but then and there my
conscience told me that they had mot
tlieir fate by no fault of mine." At the
Wheeler cabin, Mr. Henderson was found
alive, not having been molested by the
Indians. 'Sir. Smith and the Shiegley boy
were found at the Tliomas cabin.
While Captain Bee and his forces were
still at Heron lake he detailed lieutenant
]\Iurry and eight men to go to Spirit lake
to bury tlie dead. The party went to
the jMarble grove, buried the body of Mr.
Marble, and then returned to Springfield.
Tlie rapid melting of the snow and the
consequent rapid rise of the streams made
progress difficult and he did not go to the
()kol){)ji lakes. The dead there were af-
terward l)uricd by the Iowa volunteers,
on April 3.
While in Springfield Captain Bee ex-
pressed much feeling over the massacre
of the settlers. He said lie was sorry Ma-
jor Williams had not continued his nuirch
over the state line and taken summary
vengeance on the ludian.s of Galwo's
cam]), wlio professed such great friendship
for tlie whites, remarking that the major
was not tied u]) with orders as he was.'^
The coiiiuiaiiili'i- of the regular soldiers
expressed the hope tiiat the fugitive fam-
ilies would return, and went so far as to
send a messenger after thciu with the
information that the Indians were out of
the country and that a guard of soldiers
would be left at S]>ringfield for their
protection; that all might now return in
safety.'"
Captain Bee detailed Lieutenant Murry
"Jareb Palmer.
""On the strength of these assurance.s some
returned and reported that if the guard was to
be permanent all would return. I could give
them no information on that head, but stated
that I would take the responsibility of leaving
an officer, two non-commissioned officers and
twenty-six privates, but that further action
must come from my military superiors." — Re-
port of Captain Bernard E. Bee.
and ,-eventeen men to remain in the set-
tlement for the protection of any who
wished to remain and those who might
come in. Mr. Jareb Palmer, who was in
llie camp when the order was read, says:.
"I remember that the order stated that
there .should not be any unnecessary bu-
gling, and I heard him afterward remark
while in conversation with the lieutenant
that the less bugling they had the better,
all of which went to show that he didn't
think the danger was over." The next
morning after the detail was announced
Captain Bee and the main part of his
command departed for Fort Eidgely,
where he arrived April 8.''
Lieutenant Slurry'" and his seventeen
men pitched their camp just south of the
Wheeler cabin and not far from tlie Car-
ver cabin. This force remained at Spring-
field until about April 20. Then it was
relieved by Lieutenant John McNab with
a force of twenty men, who remained un-
til fall.
The subsequent history of Inkpaduta
and his band can lie told in a Hew words.
.\] I hough all the damage had been done
by a dozen or. fifteen warriors of the out-
law band, it was feared the whole Sioux
nation was up in arms. There was great
'^Captain Bernard E. Bee was a South Caro-
linian and was about forty year.s of age in
1S57. He was a West Point graduate and a
tirave and determined officer. Soon after the
exijedition to Springtield his regiment went
west to help .suppress the Mormon uprising and
he was in the west until the beginning of the
ci\il war. When South Carolina seceded from
the union Captain Bee resigned from the army
and was made a brigadier general in the con-
federate army. He was killed in the first bat-
tle of Bull Run while endeavoring to hold his
brigade in line. But before he was killed he did
much to turn the tide of battle and bring about
a confederate victory.
During the hottest part of the battle, while
his men and those of several other commands
were fleeing in disorder, noting how firmly
stood the brigade of General Thomas J. Jack-
son. General Bee shouted to his men: "For
CJod's sake,- stand, men: stand like Jackson's
brigade on your right; there they stand like .a
stone wall." General Beauregard and other
officers, overhearing the remark, remembered it.
rnd from this came the famous soubriquet of
"Stonewall Jackson."
"Lieutenant Murry was a Pennsylvanian by
birth. He had attended West Point, but failed
to graduate, and was appointed to the army
from civil life. He remained true to tlie north-
ern cause.
80
TTTST()T?V OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
alarm all over soutlieni Minnesota, al-
thougli there was not a hostile Inrlinn in
the vicinity.
Immediately after the soldiers under
Captain Rce had given up the pursuit,
the Indians made all haste to get out of
the country. They traveled westward in-
to Dakota, taking the women captives
with them. Of the four unfortunate wom-
en, Mrs. Thatcher and Mrs. Xoble were
cruelly murdered, Mrs. Marble and Miss
Gardner were ransomed after considorahlc
delay.
Inkpadula and his ham] df niurdcrers
were never properly ])unishod, owing to a
combination of circumstances. The chief
himself became totallv blind within a
few years and did not participate in more
iMitcherics. lie and two surviving sons
tle<l with Sitting Hull to Canada, finally
locating at the Canadian red pipestone
(|uarry, in southwestern Manitoba. Hero
in 1804 Dr. Charles Eastman, a well-
known Indian authority, found the dc-
.^cendants of Inkpaduta, who gave him
much interesting information. Tlie
bloody-minded old savage himself had
died miserably some years before.'" Two
of Inkpaduta's sons. Roaring Cloud and
Fire Cloud, were killed during the sum-
mer of 1857. Two other members of the
band were killed by Little Crow's In-
dians. Probably the rest took part in the
great Sioux outbreak of ISGS.
"Minnesota In Three Centuries.
CHAPTER VI.
EESETTLEMENT AND OEGANIZATION— 1857-1859.
IT SEEMS ^trann'e that in less tliaii nuses tn various contemplated railroads,
two months after the terrible Inkpa- The towiisite boomers carried their
duta massacre — at a time when only schemes to the legislature and largely -for
a handful of men were braving the dau- their benefit the Minnesota law making
gers of the Indian country by remaining body indiscriminately created counties in
in what was then known as the Spring- all parts of the territory — in many of
field settlement — the legislature of the
territory- of Minnesota should see fit to
create the political division known as
Jackson county and make provision for
its organization. But such is the case,
and Jackson county was for the first time
entitled to a place on the map of Minne-
sota on May 23, 1857, when Governor
Samuel Medary attached his signature to
the bill creating it.
Conditions in Minnesota territory at
the time were unique. Thousands of peo-
l)le were pouring in and building them-
s-elvcs homes in the frontier sections. Elab-
orate scliemes for big ventures were
planned ; nothing was done in a niggardly
manner ; frenzied finance reigned su-
preme. Railroad rumors filled the air,
and it was indeed an out-of-the-way place
that did not look forward to the coming
of the iron horse in the immediate fu-
ture. Paper roads covered the territory
from one end of the territory to the other,
and southwestern Minnesota was no ex-
ception to the rule. The territorial leg-
islature caught the fever and granted bo-
which there was not at the time a single
resident. And Jackson county came into
existence under these conditions.
Investigation shows us tliat in addi-
tion to the Indian title, which was quiet-
ed by treaty in the early fifties, the land
now comprising Jackson county has been
in the possession of three different civiliz-
ed nations and has formed a part of six
different territories of the United States
and of three difEerent counties of Minne-
sota.
Our county formed a small part of the
new world possessions claimed by France
by right of discovery and exploration. In
]7G3, iuimbled by wars in Europe and
America, France was forced to relinquish
her province known as Louisiana, and all
her possessions west of the Mississippi
liver were ceded to Spain in that year.
Amid the exigencies of European wars
Spain, in the year 1800, ceded Louisiana
back to France, which was then ruled by
Xapoleon Bonaparte. On April 30, 1803,
negotiations were completed for the pur-
chase of Louisiana by the United States
81
82
IllSlOliY OF .lAl'KSO.N COlN'rV.
for tlie sum of $1.5,000,000. On lliat
date the future Jackson county became a
part of the UniteiT States.
Soon after the United St-.iics secured
pofsesiiion — in 1805 — that jiart of tlie
mammoth territory of Louisiana wliich
had been called Upjicr Lfluisiana was or-
ganized into Jlissouri territory, and had
our county then liad settlers they would
have been nnder the government of ifis-
souri. ^lissouri was admitted as a state
in \S'Hk and for several years thereafter
the country beyond its northern boun-
dary, comprising what is now Iowa and
all of Minnesota west of the ^lississippi
river, was without organized government.
But in 18,34 congress attached tliis great
expanse of territory to Michigan terri-
tory. Two years later Wisconsin terri-
tory was formed, comprising all of Michi-
gan Avest of Lake Michigan and for the
next two years we were a ])art of that ter-
ritory.
Congi-ess did a iot of enacting and
boundary changing before Jackson coun-
ty got where is belonged. ^Ye became a
part of Iowa territory when it was creat-
ed in 18.38, because we were included in
"all that part of the fthen] present ter-
ritory of Wisconsin which lies west of the
Mississippi river and west of a line diawn
due north from the headwater.-; or sources
of the Mississippi to the territorial line."
Jackson county was a part of Iowa ter-
ritory until Iowa became a state in tSK!.
During this time settlers began to locate
in portions of what later became Minne-
sota, and they were put under the juris-
diction of Clayton county, Iowa.' -Be-
fore this the Minnesota country had been
practically a "no man's land." The only
laws enforced were the rules of the fur
comjianies and the law of the sword ad-
ministered by the connnandant at Fori
'Henrv H. Sibley, who lived at Mcndola. wa.i
a justice of the peace of that count.v. The
cotinty seat was 250 miles distant, and his Jur-
isdiction extended over a region of countr>'
"as large as the empire of France."
Snelling. By the admission of Iowa as
a state in l.S4(5 our county again liecame
actually a "no man's land/' we were a
part of no territ<iry or state. That con-
dition existe<l until Minnesota territory
was iii':iti(l ill 184!)."
Wlieii the lirst legislature convened af-
ter the organization of the territory in
18411 it divided Minnesota into nine coun-
ties, named as follows: Benton, Dakota.
Itasca. Cass, Pembina, Ramsey, Washing-
ton. Chisago and Wabasha. The whole of
.southern Jliuncsota was included m Wa-
ija.sha and Dakota, and of these two. Da-
kola had the bulk of the territiu-y. Wa-
basha included that part of the territory
"lying east of a line running due south
from a point on tiie ilississipjii river
known as iledicine Bettle village, at Pine
Bend I near St. Paul], to the Iowa line.''
Dakota county (created October 27, 1840)
\tas "all that part of said territory west
of the ^[ississipjii and lying west of the
county of Wabasiia and south of a line
beginning at the mouth iif Crow river,
and up said river and the north branch
I hereof to its source, and thence due west
to the ^[issouri river.'"''
=It may he of Interest to know that only an
unfavorable act of rongr.-ss i>revent.*tl Jackson
cnurUy from beinjc (ll\'ldc(l — part t.i go to Iowa
and part to the future Miiui.-sota. In 1S14 a
constitutional co!i\-ention prepari-ti a constitu-
tion for tile state tif Inw.a which ]>rt>vi<lcd for
boundaries in part as follows: From a point
whore the Sioux or Calumet river enters the
Missouri. In a straight line to a point wlu'rc
the Watonwan enters St. Peter's (Minnesota)
river (which it does not. but rath.T the Ului'
KarthK and thence down the SI. I'.-ters to the
Mississippi aiul down that river. 'I'his line de-
fining th<. northwest bouiidarv woulil extend,
on a present da\' map. from Si<Mix (Mty. Iowa,
to Afankato. Minnesota, and woubl pass through
Jackson countv. Had congress ratified this
constitution, which it did not, the present Jack-
son county would have been partly In Iowa
and partl.v in Minnesota
".Minnesota territory then extended to the
Missouri river. In this mammoth county of
Dakota there were the following prisent day
counties (or parts of counties) in Minnesota.
In addition to many in whiit is now the stjite of
South Pjikola; Rock. NVdiles. Jackson, Mai'liji.
Faribault. Freeborn, Steele, Waseca, Hlue
Karth. Watonwan. Cottonwood, Murray, Pipe-
stone, Lincoln, I, yon. Redwood, Hi'own, Nicfjllet.
Lesueur. Kice. Dakota (part), Scott, Sibley.
Renville, Yellow Medicine, I>ac qui Parle, Chip-
pewa, Kandiyohi (except small corner). Meeker
(part). Mcl.eod, Carver, Hennepin. Wright
(part), Stearns (small part). Pope (part). Swift.
Stevens (part), Big Stone and Traverse (part).
HlSTOllY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
83
Although Dakota county was lai-gcr
than many of the eastern states its popvT-
lation was almost nothing, and it was de-
clared "organized only for the purpose
of the appointment of justices of the
jieacc. constaMe.-; ami sueli other judicial
and miniriteiiid utficcrs as may be speci-
ally provide(l for."
The futiii'c .Iack;-i))i cdunty remained a-
part of Dakota county until March .5,
1853, when there was a readju.stment of
Dakota and Wabasha county boimdaries,
and Blue Earth county came into exist-
ence. The boundaries of the latter were
described as follows: "So much territoiw
lying south of the Minnesota river as re-
mains of Wabasha and Dakota counties
undivided by this act." As the boundaries
of the two older counties as defined by the
act were very indefinite, it is impossible
to state exactly what the dimensions of
Blue Earth county were. It is known,
however, that it included all of south-
western Minnesota.
For two years the unknown Jackson
county country remained a part of Blue
Earth county, and then came another
change. By an act approved February
20, 185.5, the county of Blue Earth was
reduced to its present boundaries, Pari-
l)ault county was created with the bound-
aries it now has, except that it extended
one township farther west than now; and
the new county of Brown came into ex-
istence. It was described as follows:
"That so much of the territory as was
fonnerly included within the county of
Blue Earth, and has not been included
within the boundaries of any other coun-
ty as herein establislied. shall be known
as the county of Brown." All of the ter-
ritory lying south of the Minnesota river
and west of a line drawn south from the
western boundary of the present day Blue
Earth county now became Brown county,
and .Jackson remained a part of this un-
til two years later, when it became a polit-
ical division of itself.^
Jackson county was only one of nine
counties in southwestern Jlinnesota crea-
ted by the act of May 23, 18o7.'' Section
two of the act described the boundaries :
That so much of the territory of ilinne-
sola a.s lies within the followini;- liijimdaries
he, and the same is liereby, establislied as the
coiuity of .Jackson: Beginning at the south-
east corner of township 101 north, of range
34 west; thence due north to the northeast
corner of township 104 north, of range 34
west; thence due west to the northwest cor-
ner of township 104 north, of range 38 west:
thence due south to the southwest corner of
township 101 north, of range 38 west; thence
due east to the place of beginning.
Of the nine counties created only Mar-
tin. Jackson, Nobles and Big Sioux were
declared to be organized coitnties and "in-
vested with all the immunities to which
organized counties are entitled by law."
These four counties were attached to the
third judicial district for judicial pur-
poses and to the tenth council district
for legislative purposes. Provision was
made for the early organization of Jack-
son county. Eesidents of the county were
to be named by the governor as commis-
sioners to perfect the organization." These
ctnnmissioners were to meet during the
'Brown county was not organized at once,
but by an act of the legislature on February 11.
1S5B, it was permitted tu organize. New "Ulm
was named as the county seat.
■"'Minnesota territory at this time extended
west to the Big Sioux river. The cither coun-
ties created by the act were Martin. Noble."!.
Murray, Pipestone, Big Sioux, Cottonwood,
Rock and Midway. The three first named were
given the boundaries they now have. The
boundaries ot Pipestone county were described
as including the present Rock county and the
eastern portion of the present Minnehaha coun-
ty. South Dakota. The boundaries of Rock
county were described as including the present
Pipestone county and a small part of the east-
ern portion of the present Moody county. South
Dakota. This transposition of the names Rock
and Pipestone in the description of their- boun-
daries in the original act of 1857 may have been
due to a lack of knowledge of the physical fea-
tures of this part of the country, or it may
have been due to a clerical error. The mis-
take was corrected . later. Big Sioux county
took in part of the present Minnehaha county
and extended from the Big Sioux river east-
ward to Pipestone (Rock) count.v. Cottonwood
coimty had the same boundaries as now. except
that it did not then have three townships in
the northwest corner which it now has. Mid-
way county included that part of the present
Moody county which lies between the Big
Sioux river and the western boundary of the
original Rock (Pipestone) county.
84
UlSTUKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
fiivt week in July, 1857, at the county seat
aud set in motion llic niacliincry of tlio
government. The county seat was tern- •
porarily located at Jackson.' tlie town.<ile
ol" Springfield iiaving been rcnaiiie(l Jack-
son a short time before, as will be told lat-
er. I'rovision for the j)i'rmanent loi-ition
was made in sedion twelve, wliidi n-,\i\>
as follows:
On the petition of twenty legal voters in
any of said eoimties, at any time after tlic
passage of this aet, it shall be tlie duty of
tlie county commissioners to order the legal
voters of any of the said counties to vote at
any general election for the location of the
county scats of said counties, and the point
receiving the highest nunilicr of votes shall
be the county seat of sai(l county.
Jackson couniy wa.< naineil in lionor of
Ifon. Jlonry Jackson, the fiist mercliant of
St. Paul, according to the be<t authori-
ties.* The only dissension from this con-
sensus of opinion is liy Hon. William P.
.Nfurray. of St. Paul, who was a memi)er
of the legislature that established the
county. Mr. JIurray thinks the county
was named in lionor of President .\ndrew
Jackson, l)ut as he is not positive of this
it Ls reasonably ceitam thr lionor belongs
to Henry Jackson."
Tt is perhaps needless to say that Jack-
son county Avas not organized in July.
1857, as tlie act provided. It is doubtful
if there were enough men in the eounfy
at the time, excepting the .soldiers, to iill
the necessary county offices. But within
a short time ))ermanent settlers again
came to the county and the organization
•Section eleven of the act reads: "The rov-
ernor shall appoint three persons for each of
the ri'spcctlve oritanlzed counties, bcinp resl-
(Icnts aiul legal voters thereof, commissioners
for each of siild counties, with full power and
authority to do and perform all acts and duties
dovolvlnK upon the board of county commis-
sioners of any or^jariized county in this terri-
tory, the said hoard of commissioners shall havi>
power to appoint all other officers that may he
required to complete the organization of their
respecti\"u counties."
'Section 12: "... an*! the f'(Mint\' seat
of Jarkson county shall lie temporarily estab-
lished at the town of Jackson In said county."
"See article by R. I. Holcombe in I'loneer
Press almanac for 1S9G: Warren I'pham's Min-
nesota County names: Mliuicsota in Three Cen-
turies.
was duly perfected, as will be told in due
chronological order.
'J'he presence of Lieutenant JIurry and
his seventeen soldiers at Springfield was
the only (liing that kept Jackson county
from becoming entirely depopulated after
the massacre. As it was, only a few spent
the summer of 185; in the county. Of
Jhc several families who were in the
Springfield settlement at the time of the
'■"On the night of June it. ist2, there landed
from a steamboat at St. Paid's a man named
Henry Jackson, whose advt-nt proved to bv
epochal In the career and history of thf place.
He vsas a Virginian and was born in 1811. He
had served as oi'dei'ly sergeant In the 'I^atrlot
.\rmy' of Sam Houston that achieved the In-
dependence of Texas, In May. 1S38. at Burfalo,
New York, he married -Xngellne Bivins, a modil
wife for an enterprising and Intelligent charac-
ter, such as he was. Soon after Ills marriage
ho moved to Green Bay. Wisconsin, and thence
to Galena, niinols, where he engaged in busi-
ness, but was unsuccessful. He had learned
of the situation at St. Paul's and determined
to establish hlmsrlf there and with the rem-
nant of his Galena stock to open a store for
the sale of Indian and frontier goods. It wa.s
a dark rainy night when he landed, he did not
know a single person or n single foot of the
territor>' in the place, and it required much
search and effort to fiml a shelter for himself
and wife imtil the morning. Quarters were
rtnally found :il the house of James R. Clewctt,
although his father-in-law's family, thi' Perrys.
were at the time members of the hiai.sehold.
Here Mr. and Mrs, Jackson remained for some
days and then Jackson rented of Pierre Par-
rant — 'Old Pigs Kvi-' — a <aljin on the levee.
which was his residence for .some weeks. He
soon purchased of Benjamin Gervals about two
acres now lying in the block bounded by Jack-
son and Robert on the east and west and
Third aiul Bench streets on the snuth and
north. The tract was then n high blulT bank,
and on a point overlooking the river, Mr.
Jackson built a, cabin of tamarack poles and
r.nened a stock of goods especially selected for
the local demand. In the summer of 1S4.1 he
eidarged and sold a half interest in his busi-
ness to Wiliiani Hartshorn, and in September
of that vi'ar tin- ruin took Into their employ as
elerk and French interpreter .Vuguste l.ouls
I.arpenteur, a native of Baltimore, but of a
prominent old French family and who Is (1!I0S>
vet an honored and honoring citizen of St. Paul.
"Henrv Jackson became very prominent and
serviceable In the early affairs of St. Paid, His
store was a creditable cst.iblishment, was In-
dependent of the fur I'ompanv and popular
among the settlers and the Indians. In 1S4S.
while the Minnesota country east of the Mis-
sissippi belonged to Wisconsin territory, he was
appointed by Govc>rnor Heiu-v Dodge a Justice
of the peace for St, Croix county. In lS4fi he
was anpointed the first postmaster at SI. Paul's,
In 1S47 and l.StS he was a member of the WIs-
ronsin legislature, representing the cotmty of
St, Croix. Ho was also a member of the first
lerritorini legislature of Mliuiesola and of th(>
lirst town council of St. Paul. In April, 1S52.
he moved to Mankato. becoming one of thi'
first four settlers of the place, where he died
Jidv SI, IS.')", Jackson street In St. Paul and
Jackson coimty are named for him and also
Jnckson street in Mankato. His widow married
John S. Hincklev. a pioneer of Mankato, and
died in that city January 1. lS9t" -Minnesota
in Three Centuries.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
85
massacre, only that of Dr. Strong ever re-
turned to live, and Dr. Strong and family
(lid not remain many years. The memory
of the awful events was too clear in their
minds to tempt back those families who had
inade settlement along the Des Moines riv-
er in the summer and fall of 1856. A few
of the unmarried men of the settlement,
however, remained during the summer.
Among tliem were Nathaniel Frost, John
Dodson, Joseph C'hifFin, Henry Trets and
Adam Shiegley.
A few others came in during the sum-
mer of 1857 and took claims or bought
from those who had departed. Alexander
Wood, a brother of the murdered store-
keepers, came to look after the claims. He
fell in with a company of townsite sharks,
who were operating extensively all over
Minnesota at the time, and an agreement
was made by the terms of which Mr. Wood
was to come and iiold down his brothers'
claims and they were to secure a half in-
terest in the holdings by reason of im-
provements which they promised to make.
Elaborate plans were made for building
a town on the townsite selected by Wil-
liam and George Wood, which was to be
called Jackson, instead of Springfield. A
sawmill and grist mill were to be built,
and work on these improvements was com-
menced. The townsite company did not
lulfil its part of the agreement by making
the stipulated improvements, possibly be-
cause of the panic of that year, and mis-
understandings resulted which were after-
wards settled in the courts to the benefit
of Mr. Wood. . Mr. Wood did not wish to
.stay on the claim during the winter, so he
entered the land as a farm claim, instead
of a townsite claim, and spent the winter
elsewhere.
Another abortive attempt to found a
town in 1857 was made by Joseph Chiffin,
John Dodson and James Whitchurch.
Tlieir "town" ^vas located on Mr. Chiffin's
claim on section eleven, Des Moines town-
ship, and was named Odessa. About this
time tiicre was a war between Eussia and
Turkey, and the name of the Eussian city
Odessa was much in the public prints.
That furnished the name, and the name
was all there was to Odessa. No improve-
ments whatever were made, and Odessa
as a Jackson county place name will be
handed down simply as an interesting re-
lic of the wildcat townsite days in Minne-
sota's early history. The Norwegian set-
tlers of 1860 report finding Odessa '"a
\illage of sticks, but without any build-
ings." The proprietors of the townsite
were trappers; they spent the winter of
1857-58 in the Skinner cabin.
Thomas Johnson came to the county in
1857, took a claim near Jackson, and
some time later became a permanent resi-
dent. Charles Mead came with Mr. John-
son and became a resident of the county.
Ned Lower took a claim on section 6, Bel-
mont, in the summer but did not remain
during the winter. Charles Kern, com-
monly called "Dutch Charlie" (he was
a Bavarian), was another arrival of the
year 1857, and he spent the following win-
ter in the settlement "holding down" the
claim of Alexander Wood. Mr. Kern
was a man of considerable ability — a news-
paper correspondent and a physician as
well as a trapper. He resided in the coun-
ty several years. As indicated, only a
few of these remained in the settlement
during the winter; Jackson county was
nearly depopulated during the winter of
1857-58.
The mail route between Mankato and
Sioux City, which had been discontinued
after the death of the carrier, Hoxie
Eathban, and which had not been resumed
in the spring on account of the massacre,
was opened during the summer of 1857.
Marsh & Babcock sublet the contract to
David Pease, who lived on tlie Watonwan,
86
IIISTOIU' OF JACKSON COUNTY.
and that genlleiiiau carried the mail over
tlic old route until ahout November 1. At
ihal time the route was ehan<ied to {^o liv
way of the Spirit lake ;-ettlement, and
two carrier.* were enipUiveil, a Mr. John.-on
lor tlic northern end and iMr. Jareh I'al-
nier for the southern eixi. They carried
the mail until .\i)ril. ISrjS, when Mi-.
Pease again resumed the duties of carrier.
The departure of ihe soldiers in the tall
of 1857 and the removal of most of the
white settlers for the winter left those who
remained in some apprehension of Indian
attack. Although none of Inkpaduta's
hand came back, there were occasionally
seen other Indians who created some
alarm. In Bueua Vista county, Iowa,
about the last of December, 1857, a party
of eleven white men attempted to drive a
hand of Indian.-; from the country.
The Indians led the whites into an
ambuscade and wounded one of the
attackers, and the whites then with-
drew and gave up the chase. A few In-
dians appeared at the Spirit lake settle-
ment during the winter and caused much
uneasiness among the few families who
were wintering there. A petition was
drawn np, signed by every adult in the
Spirit lake .settlement, and carried to Des
Jloines by Jareb Palmer. The petition
asked the Iowa legislatm-e to send a force
of volunteers for their protection.'"
Governor Lowe authorized the raising
of a company of volunteers to go to tlie
frontier, and ilr. Jaroh Palmer recrui-
ted a company of thirty men, which was
mustered in at \Vcb.>ter City and namcil
Frontier Guard. JI. li. Jlartin. of Web-
ster City, was captain, and William L.
Church, the former Springlield settler,
was first lieutenant, 'i'he Frontier Guard
arrived in the exposed settlements on
Marcli 1 and was divided into three squads
— one at Spirit lake, one on the Des
Moines, seven miles above Estherville, and
one on the Little Siou.x, in Clay county.
The guard remained on the frontier un-
til the last of June, and then, as there
apiieared to be no Indians near the settle-
ments, the soldiers returned to tluir
homes. Thi' country had been thorouglilv
seari'hed, but no Indians fo\ind. On one
occasion, at Skunk lake, in Sioux Valley
townshi)) of Jackson county, tiiere was
found the dead body of an Indian laid
upon the nearly horizontal branch of a
large but somewhat scrubby oak tree. From
the profusion of ornaments found on Ids
person he was supposed to have been a
chief or warrior distinguished among liis
fellows.
Owing to the presence of these Iowa
"••Spirit La1<e. Jaiiu.iry 9. 1S5S. To the Hon-
orable, the General .Assembly of the State or
Iowa. The uiider.'iiBneil citizens, residing- In
the vicinity of Spirit lake, would resi>ectfully
present for the consUleration of your honorable
liody the condition of the iieople on the fron-
tier in the northwest part of the state. We
are exposed to the attack i>f nidians under cir-
cumstances afrordinB little hope of relief. The
settlemi'nts are sparse and widely se.ittered.
with but little or no communication with each
other. A hostile incursion has already been
made and depredations committed in the vicin-
ity where the outrages were committed last
winter, .and with a restdt to encourage renewed
attempts. .\t any hour this may be repeated
at points ntlerly iinprot^-cted and but poorly
supplied with means of ilefense. Some of the
surrounding: settlem^-nts have already been
abandoned for the winter, and ail are much
Weakened in numbers by jiersons who have left.
Many of the settlers remaining- cannot b>ave
without ,'ibaiulonlnK tin-ir all antl cannot collect
in sufficient numl)ers to withstand attack, and
depending — as nearly all the remalninf? settlers
do — upon their own exertions for sustetianci*.
must either endure Kreat suffering or remain
exp«,sed to danger. If we apply to the general
go\'ernment. relief, if obtained, wouhl be too
late. Help for us. to be efTiclent. must bp
promjit. A small body of soldiers placi'd near
the Little Sioux river, in the vicinity of the
slate line, would afford protection to all the
settlements on the 1. it tie Sioux, alxiut Spirit
lake, and on the west fork of the Des Moines
rl\er and their vicinity. We would respectfully
pray that a law l->e passed authorizing the rals-
iuK of one himdred volunteer troops for the
term of three months, to be stationed in the
north part of Ihe state, -i'our petitioners also
pray for such other means of protection as cir-
cumstances demand."
Tlie petition was sipned hv Orlando C. Howe,
William P. Oraylord. .larch Palmer. William D.
Carsley. Joseph Miller. H. H. Packard. Dan
f'olweil. T. S. Rtff. C. L. Richardson. Rosalvc
KinRman. W. B. Brown. Charles F. Hill. Jos-
eph M. Post. William I-amont. T-awrence Fos-
leer. I.evi Daugherty. George Rogers. K. V.
I onvfellow. James I.. Pi Urs. K. Thurstc.n
Thomas Miner. James P. H.awklns. George S
P.ist. R. r. Wheelock. WllliMm Donaldson. Ri.il
crick .\. Smith. George tietrlck. Agnes I. Kim;
man. Melissa A. Peters. Mrs. M. W. Howe.
Elizabeth Thurston. Mrs. K. Massey.
pUBLIC LIBRARY
eiirrALO _kjll found in Petersburg
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
87
guards there was quite a large immigra-
tion to the Spirit lake country, to Jackson
county, and to other nearby settlements
in tlie spring of 1858. The appearance
of small bands of Indians about the first
of September again created apprehension,
and the guard returned to the frontier
about the middle of Novendjor and re-
mained all Avintcr.
During ihc spring and siiunner of 1S58
many who had been in Ihe countv the
year before returned to make permanent
settlement and several new settlers arrived.
Among the more prominent of the settlers
of this year was Joseph Thomas, who be-
came one of the best known niun of Jack-
son county." It was during the month
of March tliat Mr. Tliomas, accompanied
liy his son, Lansing, then a youth of nine-
teen years, James Palmer, his son-in-law,
and P. P. Holland, drove into Jackson
county by ox team from Newton, Iowa.
Mr. Thonuis had Ijought the Wheeler claim
and caljin from a man named Kellogg,
and made his home there until his death.
He returned to Newton for provisions and
household goods, but came back at once.
Lewis Thomas arrived at the new liojne
in July. The rest of the family came
tlie ne.xt spring. James Palmer took as
a claim the southwest quarter of section
19, Wisconsin township, and continued a
resident of the county until his death.
Nathaniel Frost came back early in the
spring to bwomo a permanent settler.
George Bradliury came from Newton,
Iowa, and took as his claim the north half
of tlie south half of section 30, Wisconsin
township, upon which lie lived until liis
death that fall. James Townsend also
came from Newton with his family and
located on the southeast quarter of section
ST), Pes Moines township, making his
home in the James B. Thomas cabin. Dur-
ing the winter of 1858-59 he went to Man-
"See biographical section.
kato with two yoke of o.xen for provisions.
On his way back, while near Elm creek,
his wagon became stuck in a slough so
that the o.xen could not pull it out. Mr.
Townsend unhitched the o.xen, turned
them loose, and c.unped in the slough for
tlie night. In the morning he started
out to look for his oxen, but a storm came
up and he lost his way. When nearly ex-
hau,sted from wandering about on the
prairie, he came upon an empty cabin
near the west chain of lakes, in Martin
county, and sought shelter there. He was
too badly frozen to make a fire and perished
in the cabin. His body was found ten
days later by trappers. In the spring of
1859 Mrs. Townsend and the children re-
turned to their old home in Newton.
James Meddleson was another unfortu-
nate man who came to the settlement early
in 1858, only to meet a violent death. Soon
after his arrival iie started down the river
in a canoe to take a few traps to John
Dodson and Charles Kern, who were trap-
ping in Emmet county, Iowa, and never
returned. He had been murdered and his
head severed entirely from the body. From
this circumstance it was thought that he
had been murdered by Indians.
Benjamin Hill, with his family of a
wife and three children, came from Man-
kato early in the spring, took a claim
on the river in Belmont township, and re-
mained several years. Charles Kern was
also in the county in 1858 and remained
for several years. John McEwen took a
claim on section 30, Des Jloines township,
remained only a few months, and then
sold to a Mr. Miller, of Newton, Iowa.
The latter remained only a short time.
Adam Sliiegley, one of the trappers wlio
had come before the massacre, was in the
county again in 1858, and was an intei--
mittent resident for several years. Frank
Wagner also came to the settlement from
Webster City and remained a few vears.
bS
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Jfessrs. Dodson, Chidin ami Wliitilmrcli,
of "Odessa," continued to hold their hind
claims and cngajic in trapping during the
year. James Haugiiloii and wife came
during the summer and located on section
3{>, Des ^loines town.ship, hut remained
only about one year. Bartholomew Mc-
Carthy, who had been to the Springfield
settlement before the niasiiaorc, returned
in the spring of LS.'iS and became a per-
manent resident.
Israel F. Eddy, who had ])roviou.sly
selected a claim near where the Milwaulvcc
depot in Jackson is now, came with his
family in April, 1858, and became a per-
manent resident. Charles Clark came from
Newton, Iowa, and took a claim in Bel-
mont township. ]\rorris Lester came from
JIankato in the spring and took a claim on
the west side of the river in the southern
part of the county', but remained (inly a
short time. Elisha Hill took a claim in
Belmont, hut de])artcd from the county
in the fall. Dr. Iv B. N. Strong and
his fanuly continued to reside in the
county during 18.58 and for some time
afterward. Joseph IMuck and his large
family located near the present silo of
Jackson, where he lived until 1802. '- W-
e.xander ^\'(l^d retui-iied to Imik al'U'r his
interests.
Probably a few other people came dur-
ing the year 1858 to take claims and be-
come permanent settlers, but as there is
now none of the settlers of 1858 living
in the county the record for the year
must remain incomplete.
The townsitc .schemers of Jfinnesota
appeared before the legislature early in
1858 and succeedcil in inducing that body
to provide for the establishment of over
ninety state roads in dilTercnt parts of
"In 18G2 Mr. Muck .nnd his family moved to
Spirit l.ako. Thi-ro his wife died and his son,
Stephen, became blind. The same year he en-
listed In the Sioux niy civnlrv and served In
the army until 18G4. In 18fi7 Mr. Muck located
In the Graham lakes country. Nobles county,
and became the first resident of that county.
tlie new state, most of them leading to
towns which existed only in the minds of
the promoters. The provision for the
cstablishnieiit of these roads was incor-
porated in one bill, approved by Charles
1.1. Chase, acting gcivenior, on March 1!»,
1858, Mr. Wood and his jissociates in
the scheme for the building of a town at
.laekson were not forgotten. Section 8(;
of the act reads as follows:
That E. E. Sraitli, J. S. Fislier ami .Mexaiulii-
Wood arc lierc'l)y appointed coiiiinis^ioiiers In
survey, locate aiiJ cMablisJi the following slate
■ (■ads, viz: Itoiu lilue Earlli t'ily, via Fair-
mont, county r-cat of .Martin county, to Jackson,
county seal of Jackson county; also a road
from Alankato, via Arcadia, in JJrown couiilv.
to Jackson, in Jackson county; also a road
from Fairmont in a soutlicrly direction to the
slate line of Iowa
It was during the year 1858 that a
company of promoters from Owatouua,
Minnesota, founded the town of Belmont
on the south half of the southeast quar-
ter of section 34, Belmont township, and
the northeast quarter of section 3, Dcs
-Moines township, on a Hat on the east side
of the river. To such an extent had real
estate speculation, especially townsite spec-
ulation, progressed at this time that some
wit of the time suggested a petition be
sent to congress asking that a law be pas-
sed providing for the reservation of some
of the government domain for agricul-
tural entry. To illustrate the condition
tlial permitted the I'ouuding of BeliiKHil
and other towns on the frontier and their
more or less successful exjdoitation, 1
quote from a Minnesota state historx- :
The real estate speculation reached its crisis
in the early part of 183": everybody seemed
inoculaleil with the m.^nia. from the capitalist
to tlie humble laborer. Townsites and adili-
tinns to towns were laid out by the score.
M:iny were piirely iniapinary. never having
been surveyed, and lots in these paper cities
were sold by the hundreds in the east at
exorbitant prices. .■\f;ricullure was nei;lert-
ed. fanuers. mechanics anil laborers forsook
their occupations to become operators in real
estate. The number of real estate dealers
was innumeral)Ie. but many of them were
shysters, hnvin;; no olTices but the sidewalk,
their stock in trade being a roll of townsite
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
89
maps and a package of blank deeds. Tlicse
opeiators, by sharp maneuvering, would manip-
ulate unsuspecting strangers and fteece them
of their means by selling them lots in moon-
shine towns for several liundred dollars each
that were not actually worth as many cents.
Such operations were repeated again and
again until St. Paul and Minnesota had a
name abroad that was anything but enviable.
In sucli times and under such condi-
tions the town of Bcliuont was founded.
While Springfield and Jackson and Odes-
sa had made no material jn'ogress. Bel-
inont did, boasting a number of buildings
and one or two business enterprises —
probably to the greater loss of lot pnr-
cliasers. tUiarles Mead and D. P. Corn-
ell seem to have been the leading spirits
of the enterprise, although a number of
others were interested with them.
The Belmont townsite boomers went
farther with their schemes than most of
the speculators of the day, and secured
tiie incorporation of tlieir town by the leg-
islature, the act being signed by Governor
Henry H. Sibley July 27, 18.58. The first
two sections of the bill read as follows :
An act to incorporate the town of Bel-
mont.
Be it enacted by the legislature of the state
of Minnesota:
Section 1. That so much land as is con-
tained in the town of Belmont, according to
the survey and plat of said town, as made by
C. C. Mead, for the proprietors of Belmont,
and situated in the county of Jackson, and
state of Minnesota, shall be a town corporate
by the name of Belmont.
Sec. 2. That for the good order and im-
provement of said town, .Joshua Dyen" is
hereby appointed president. S. B. Westcott,
D. P. Cornell, George A. Bardwell and Fred-
erick Noble be and are hereby appointed trus-
tees, Charles G. Berry, secretary, E. W. Nortli-
rup, attorney, and S. A. Farr'ington. treasur-
er, and George E. Leary, marshal. The presi-
dent, trustees and secretary shall constitute
the council of said town.
Some of the officers of the town — per-
haps all of them — located in the new town.
At least two of them became permanent
settlers of the county, for we find the
names of Joshua Dyer and Frederick No-
ble listed as residents of Jackson county
when the federal censu-- of 1860 was taken.
"Joshua Dyer.
Section three of the charter provided
that the officers named in the act should
enter upon their duties on the first Wed-
nesday in January, 18.59, and made jjrovis-
ion for the holding the first town elec-
tion at the ne.xt general state or county
election. The fourth section stated the
duties and defined the corporate powers
of tlie officers. Among other items :
The officers of said town shall have a right
of action against all trespasses on the prop-
erty of said town; and any person trespass-
ing upon any lands within the limits of said
town, or occupying said lands without a con-
veyance from tlie proprietors of said town, or
their trustees, agents or assignees, shall for-
feit all improvements he may make on such
lands, and shall be liable to "pay damages to
twice the amount of actual injustice done to
said lands.
Other sections of the charter provided
for keeping a record of the proceedings of
the council, for filling vacancies, defined
the powers of the council, provided for
authority to assess and collect taxes for
municipal purposes, and for the delivery
of records to successors in office. The
charter does not definitely locate the town,
and, as the county had not yet been sur-
veyed, neither the legislature nor the town-
site proprietors kne\i- the exact location
as it would appear on a present day map.
The land was still government property,
Init provision was made for securing title
under the townsite act of 184-1. Section
eleven of the incorporating act reads:
It .shall be the duty of the said council of
said town to apply for a preemption of the
land within the limits of said town, not ex-
ceeding three hundred and twenty acres, un-
der the provisions of an act of congress, en-
titled an act for the relief of citizens of
towns upon lands of the United States, xni-
der certain circumstances, approved May 23,
]844; and as soon as the title to said' land
shall be obtained as aforesaid, to ascertain
the persons entitled to the various lots and
blocks within said town, who may have a
valid right to the same, either by original
claim, or by transfer by the person having
made such original claim, and to deed under
hand of the president and secretary, and to
seal with the seal of said corporation, to such
persons so entitled, the lots or blocks to
whicli such person may be entitled: provided
that no street or alley, or other public ground
90
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
shall be go deeded; and provided also, that
every person or persons to whom such lots or
blocks shall lie deeded as aforesaid, shall rir>t
pay to the treasurer or secretary of said town,
liir smh lots or blocks the cost of entry, and
incidental expenses of the same.
the court liouse was a store building, and
just over the line in Belmont township
was a hotel. It is believed that a brick
yard was located on the northwest quarter
The proprietors of the village of Bel- of the southeast quarter of section 3, for
jnont were successful in inducing quite a there was found a large quantity of burned
number of people to locate on their land brick. Besides tlie saw mill, court iiouse,
and actually spent considerable money in brick yard, store and hotel, there were a
an effort to build a town. The people who number of log houses on the townsitc. All
located in Belmont were trappers, traders the buildings were of log, nearly all of
and farmers. A mnnlicr of patches of which had floors of sawed lumber. There
prairie land were iiroken up in the vi- is evidence to show that tlie inliabitants of
cinity and sown to crops ; surveyors' stakes the town moved out of their hou.scs dur-
covered over a quarter section of the finest ing the winter and took refuge from the
farming land.
That the promoters were sincere in their
intentions to build a little city on the
frontier is evidenced by the number of
enterprises put under way. Among the
first improvements was the building of a
dam across the river at what later became
the Holsten Olson place. It is said that
this dam was built during the winter on
top of the ice. In the spring, instead of
sinking and forming the dam, as the
builders expected, the materials were
swept away. A dam was then built across
the river lower down, but the promoters
decided to install a steam mill, and, at
great expense the machinery for the coun-
ty's first sawmill was brought overLind
with ox teams from St. Paul. The
mill was set up on the east side of the riv-
er, very close to tlic center of section three
and just west of the residence which was
the home of the late Judge Simon Olson
for so many years."
It was, of course, proposed to make Bel-
mont the county seat of Jackson county,
and to this end a two story log court hou.ee.
abo\it 18x20 feet, witli roof of shakes, was
built on the southeast quarter of the
northeast quarter of section three.'" Near
"This miU was .stancUnR when the settlers of
ISRl arrived. Later It was removed to Spencer.
Iowa, and later still to Emmet's Grove.
"At this late day some of the logs that form-
ed the rnnrt house building are to be found In
the vicinity.
cold weatlicr in caves dug close to the riv-
er in the timber. .\ number of these caves
were found wliicli had the appearance of
liaving Ijeen occupied by the Belmont vil-
lagers. SI) settlers of i few years lnt<T re-
ported.
When the enumerator took the census
of 1S()0 lie reported finding six unoccupied
iniihlings in the town of lidmont. The
Norwegian settlers who came in lS(iO
found most of the buildings sl;niiliiig.
There were also one or two of the promot-
ers present who exerted every effort to
sell tlie new comers lots. But as tliey
had all out-doors to select from the Nor-
wegians did not invest in Belmont town
lots, and were accordingly coolly received
by the townsitc agents.
Like its rival, Jackson, Belmont was
able to secure the pa.ssage of an act by the
legislature providing for the establishment
of state roads to the town. On August
."i, 1S.5S, a bill was a])proved proviiling for.
among others, the establishment of three
loads to Belmont with commissioners to
oversee the work, as follows :
Blue Earth City to Belmont ; D. P. Cor-
nell. C. G. Berry and O. N. Gardner, com-
missioners.
South Bend, in Blue Karth county, to
Belmont : J. T. Williams. S. B. Westcott
and F. W. Northrup, commissioners.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
91
Vernon, in Blue Earth county, to Bel-
mont; James Cornell, Frederick G. Noble
and D. r. Cornell, commissioners.
The iiaymcnt for this work was to he
made by the several organized counties
through which the roads would run.
Despite the etTorts of the promoters,
Belmont was doomed, and within a feu-
years not a sign of the village was to be
seen; it had passed into history.'"
The boundaries of Jackson county were
surveyed in September, 1858, but town-
ship and section lines were not run until
later. The mall route during the lat-
ter part of this year was under the man-
agement of Orrin Nason and a Mr. Be-
dow, of Mankato, under the firm name of
Nason and Bedow, and those gentlemen
carried the mail between Mankato and
Siou.x City from that time until 1862,
when the service was abandoned. The
route was across Jackson county by way
of the little settlement of Jackson.
During the year 18.58 Jackson county
was organized under the act of the legis-
lature of May 2.3, 18.37. John B. Fish,
Alexander Wood and a gentleman by the
name of Britton were chosen commission-
ers by the citizens to perfect the organi-
zation, but owing to some informality
the governor, who had the appointing pow-
er, did not recognize these commissioners,
but appointed others.'" The commission-
ers appointed other residents to fill the
various county offices and the machinery
of county government was set in motion.
These appointees served until their suc-
cessors, elected in the fall of 18.58, quali-
fied.
This county organization was maintain-
ed until August, 1862, when it was dis-
continued because of the Sinux outbreak
"" . . . Belmont for a time promised to
oustrip its competitors, Odessa and Jacltson,
down the river, but its metropolitan march was
brief, and better wheat cannot be grown than
John and ,\ndrew Olson now raise on these
same lots and avenues of the old townsite of
Belmont." — Jackson Republic, March 19, 1870.
"Jackson Republic, March 19, 1870.
and the consequent depopulation of the
county. It is greatly to be regretted that
so little is known of the county govern-
ment under this iirst organization. With
a very few exceptions, all records have
been lost, only a few miscellaneous rec-
ords having been preserved — ju.st enough
to make certain that the government was
maintained during these years.
There wa.s another Indian scare during
the winter of 1858-59. Scouts of the
Frontier Guard, which was stationed at
the Spirit lake settlement all winter,
found a tew Indians near the head oi
Spirit lake, and a detachment of troops
was sent out to capture them. The sol-
diers found two warriors and a half-breed
with their families camped -in a grove on
the east shore of Little Spirit lake, in
Minneota township, Jackson county, and
took them with their camp equipage to the
soldiers' camp. The Indians made no re-
sistence and professed friendship for the
whites and intense liatred for Inkpaduta
and his Indians.
A few of the settlers at Spirit lake be-
lieved tbev recognized in tiiese Indians
former followers of the noted outlaw, and
the captives were kept under guard. Gov-
ernor Lowe of Iowa ordered the Indians
to be taken to Des Moines for trial for
the Spirit lake murder.'^. In charge of a
non-commissioned officer and two privates
the Indians were started on their way to
trial. When Palo Alta county was reach-
ed both Indians made their escape and
wore never seen afterward, .\lthough
the captives had now gotten away, then-
arrest had a salutary efEcct upon the Sioux
of the vicinity. Straggling bands of In-
dians were occasionally seen in the coun-
trv after that, but they never pitched
their camps in the vicinity. The Iowa
guards returned home in May, 1859, anil
were disbanded.
The vear 1859 was not an eventful one
92
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
in tlic liiiftoiy of Jackson county. Among
tlie new settk-rs of tlie year wa.s a jiaity
who came during the summer, consisting
of D. ilortimer West, wife and sons —
Stiles M.,, M. F.. and H. F.,— James K.
West, a hrother of 1). ^Fnrtimer West, Ed-
ward Davies and Jiciny Pease. All ex-
cept the two younger West hoys took land
claims, Afr. Davirs in nnrtiiern He? ^loiiics
township, the others south of the present
site of Jackson. A few other settlers came
and took claims, hut others moved away,
and at the close of the year there were
jjrobahly not one hundred men, women
and children in the county. Tlie settle-
ments were confined solely to the. country
aliinjr tlu' Des Moines river.
CHAPTER VII.
THE NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT— 1860-1862.
"|^>ACTS supplying the context of pre-
l~i ceding chapters lead to the con-
-■- elusion that fear of the treacher-
ous red man was responsible for the slow
settlement of Jackson county. Had it
not been for the uprising of Inkpaduta's
little band of renegade Indians in 1S5T,
there can be no question that by the be-
ginning of the year 18G0 Jackson county
Alone and on foot, with his pack on
hi is back. Anders Olson Slaabaken, who
was a sort of leader of the Norwegian
immigrants who had come from the old
country and settled in Wisconsin, set out
from Eock county, Wisconsin, in 1858 to
explore the great western country and lo-
cate a suitable place for himself and
friends to build homes. He traveled
would have boasted considerable popula- through parts of Minnesota, Nebraska and
tion. As it was, only a few were found
willing to brave the dangers incident to
building homes in the Indian country.
But by degrees the fear of Indian attack
was lessened, and during the first three
vears of the decade beginning with 1860
Dakota, and then returned to his friends
and advised them to move farther west.
It has been stated that ilr. Slaal>aken, in
his travels in 1858, visited the Belmont
country and was charmed with the loca-
tion, but the best evidence is to the effect
quite a number pushed out onto the fron- ^j^.^^ j^^, ^^j,) j,„|- yi^\i Jackson county. But
tier to become pernuinent settlers of Jack-
son countv and other favo.red sections of
southwestern ilinnesota.
Prior to 18G0 nearly all the settlers of
the county were American born and came
from Iowa and the older settled portions
of ]\Iinuesota. The larger part of the
settlers of the early sixties were Norwe-
gians, who came in small colonies and set-
tled along the Des Moines river in what
are now Des Moines and Belmont town-
ships. The first of these came in 1860,
upon the rejirescntations of Anders Olson
Slaabaken, wlio was generally known as
Anders Olson or Anders Belmont.
he did return home and pili)t his friends
til the Jackson county country.
in the spring of 1860 a parly of ten or
a dozen of these Norwegian families start-
ed out in covered wagons drawn by oxen
from their Wisconsin homes. They went
first to Winneshiek county, Iowa, and
then pushed on westward to Jackson coun-
tv, where they arri^ed during the sum-
mer. The naiues of the men of this col-
ony and the locations they selected for
their homes were as follows:
Anders Olson Slaabaken,^ swi^ 34,
Belnmnt (east of river).
93
94
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Hiirrc Olson niiil familv,- swVi 11,
Dcs Moines.
Kiuitc Midstiid and wife, neVi 28, l?ol-
ninnt (west of river).
Ole 0. Folire and family, nwV4 22,
Belmont.
Lars Fumes, nwi j 1(>. Helmonl.
Tanil Kaiiilo and liiiiiily, section 1.").^
Belmont.
Lars .\skclsoii and family. i^wVy 21,
Belmont.
T^ans Bradvold and family, sei/4 ;>, Dcs
Moines.
Ole Peterson and family, swi4 2, Des
AFninps.
Hans H. LJen and family, sw 14 l'"»- T^' ~
Moines.
Englebret Olson Slaabaken and family,-
seVi 22, Belmont.
When tlie.se families came tiicy had
their pick of the land.< in that part of
the county in whioh they located, ^fost
of the wliitp sott'.ci-- at the time lived
farther down the river, in the vicinity of
the present village of .lackson, only a
few townsite boomers and trajipers having
located so far up the river. Indians were
occasionally seen in the vicinity, but they
'AikIpps Olson Sl.iabikcn becamp oiip of the
most hlRhly respecterj citizens of the .settlo-
ment. He devoted his time and enerjo' largely
to looking after thi' Interests of the people
whom he had advised to build homes In the
frontier country and others who came ialer.
He assisted his people in
claims, gave many fa\'ors.
satistied with a "thank vou'
locating desirabl«-
aiul was always
for his pay, Mr.
Slaabaken was a single man when he c;i
mi
to
larried the widow
His eldest son.
resides upon the
Jacksnn county, but he later
of Mikkel Olson Slaabaken.
Peter f>lson Slaabaken. now
old Relmont homestead. Three children of Mr.
and Mrs. Mikkel Olson Sliibaken. Olava. Chris-
tiana and Karina. nrc now married and resi-
dents of Jackson county.
=One of the sons of Burre Olson Is Rersvend
fWilllamI Burreson. who resides upon the old
homestead. Of all the Norwegians who came
to the county In ISfiO. only William Burreson
and wife and Mrs. Burreson's sister. Mrs.
Gillie, are living.
'In 1S61 Mr. Ramlo took as his claim the
southwest ouarter of section 34. Belmont, on
the west side of the river, and removed to that
location.
'Two of Englehret Olson Slaabaken's daugh-
ters are still residents of Jackson county. They
are Mr.s. William Burreson. of Dcs Moines, and
Mrs. Olof Gillie, of Belmont.
irave the new arrivals no trouble. The
lu'w-comers builded their log cabins in
the woods along the river, prepared their
lands for cultivation, and became a val-
ued addition to the population of Jackson
county. Another settler of 1860 who be-
came quite proinincni in the county was
Iiev. Peter Baker, who came in the fall
and began preaching to the scattered set-
tlers, taking a claim in Petersburg town-
ship.
In the fall of 1800 the settlers, feeling
that they were insecure from the ravages
of the Sioux Indians, organized a com-
pany of home guards, of which' nearly
all the men became members. David M.
West was chosen captain, the state fur-
ni.'hed arms, and the guards drilled every
week.
The federal census of 18G0. taken by
Assistant United States ^larshal Elius
D.- Bruner on July l."5 and 14,'" showed
the county to have a population of 181
|H'ople.° The enumerator visited 60 houses
in the county. He found .'52 families
and eight unoccupied dwellings, most of
the vacant houses being in the village of
Belmont. The only township in the coun-
ty at the time was named Jackson, and
all the residents lived therein. Of the
total population only two persons had
title to real estate. These were Samuel
Brow 11. who placed a value of $700 on his
real pro])erty. and Thomas John.«on, who
valued his at $1.'')0.
Following are the names of the inhabi-
tants of 1860, their ages, occupations,
birthplaces and the value of their per-
sonal property :"
'Only those were listed who were residents on
June 1; consequently the names of only a few
of the arrivals of 1S60 appear.
•Other southwestern Minnesota counties in
ISfiO had populations as follows: Blue Earth.
4.sn.1: Farlhault. l.a.lS: Watonwan. 0: Martin.
I.'.l; Cottonwood. 12: Murray. 2S: Nobles. 35;
I'Ipestone. 23: Rock. 0.
'This list was obtained from the director of
the census at Washington through the kindness
of Hon. W. S. Hammond.
HISTORY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
95
NAME
Age
Occupation
Property
Birthplace
*Samuel Brown
Amelia Brown
Joseph Kester
Eliza Kester
John Kester
*Truman Wolbridge
•Frederick Noble...
*Joshua Dyer
*Israel Eddy
Adilia Eddy
William Eddy
Francis Eddy
Perry Eddy
*Benjamin Hill
Hannah Hill
William Hill
Mai-y Hill
Franklin Hill
Andrew Hill
Mary Davy
Buchanan Davy....
*Charles Kern
•Samuel Bartel
*John Byers
Vallina Byers
*Allen Day
Sarah Day
William Day
Franklin Day
LeRoy Day
*Senior Kingsbury..
Maria Kingsbury...
*Henry Thomson....
Maiy Thomson
'Charles Mead
*James Whitchurch
*John McBee
*John Dodson
"Joseph Chiffin
*George Hoffman...
Eliza Hoffman
Matilda Hoffman...
Eliza Hoffman
*Thomas Johnson...
Amy Johnson
'Nathaniel Frost
*Adam Shiegley
Nancy Shiegley
* Frank Waggaman
*Jarvis Harton
Polly Harton
'Joseph Muck
Sally Muck
William Muck
Mary Muck
Stephen Muck
Martha Muck
Elizabeth Muck
Sarah Muck
Simmon Muck
Richard Muck
Arminta Muck
'Joseph Thomas
Jane Thomas
51
21
25
21
5-12
25
24
24
36
21
13
10
3
45
36
15
12
10
6-12
48
3
49
22
26
21
30
22
5
3
6-12
30
25
27
24
28
27
42
28
26
28
23
3
1
28
23
36
50
46
28
50
.50
49
45
18
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
2
50
49
Farmer
Fanner
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
$200
Trapper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Laborer
Farmer
Farmer
Trapper
Trapper
Trapper
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
100
100
100
50
150
100
100
Farmer
300
Maine
Prussia
Ohio
Minnesota
New York
Vermont
New York
Iowa
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Bavaria
New York
Germany
Michigan
Wisconsin
Ohio
Wisconsin
Minnesota
New York
Canada
Indiana
England
Maryland
Germany
Minnesota
It
New York
Pennsylvania
Indiana
New York
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Missouri
New Jersey
New York
*Heads of families.
96
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
NAME
Age
Occupation
Property
Birthi>!a.-.-
LansincT Thomas
20
19
17
15
13
11
28
25
4
4
2
2-12
27
52
24
22
2
45
28
24
21
15
40
25
6
3
1
24
22
3
1
30
25
55
84
20
16
8
4
38
21
16
12
10
6
29
26
3
24
19
1
2-12
46
65
26
30
2
50
46
7
20
26
28
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
%
200
350
300
New Jersey
tt
tt
tt
Vermont
New Jersey
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Ireland
Connecticut
New Jersey
Iowa
New York
England
Pennsylvania
New York
Ohio
tt
Illinois
Minnesota
Ohio
Canada
Illinois
«t
Canada
tt
«■
tt
<i
i<
New York
tt
4t
l<
t,
H
Pennsvlvania
New Jersey
tt
Michigan
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Norway
((
Iowa
Norway
it
i<
tt
*t
Elizabeth Thomas
Roxanna Thomas
Joseph Thomas
*Lolan Stevens
John Stevens
Carrie Stevens
Louis Stevens . .
•Bartholomew McCarthy..
*James Palmer .. .
Arminda Palmer
•David West
Edward Davies
William Daffield
Stiles West
Henr\' West
•Ezra Strong
Mary Strong
James Strong
Grace Strong
Auther Strong
'Harrison Andrews
Anna Andrews
Eliza Andrews
Daniel Andrews
•Ira Camfield
Levi Camfield
Elizabeth Camfield
Mary Camfield
Eliza Camfield
Nancv Camfield
Eugenia Camfield
George Camfield
*Rosanna Fuller
Elizabeth Fuller
Ezra Fuller
Emeline l-uller
George Fuller
Daniel Fuller
•David Rogers
'George Hogan
Farmer i ."^on
Ann Hogan
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Farmer
Fanner
200
250
175
Charles Hogan
*George McMath
Nancy McMath
Minnie McMath
Nettie McMath
'Knute Olson
Betsv Olson
•Thomas Hanson
Mar>' Hanson
Hans Hanson
•Burre Olson
JuliaOlson
John Olson
Ole Olson
William Olson
•Hans Johnson
•llcadsof fainlll.-
HISTORY OF .TAOKSON COUNTY.
97
NAME
Age
Occupation
Property
Birthplace
25
$
Norway
2
Iowa
2-12
Minnesota
26
Farmer
150
Norway
26
' *
2
1
46
Iowa
Farmer
200
Norway
40
• '
2
Wisconsin
25
Farmer
Norway
27
' '
1
Iowa
30
Farmer
Norway
4
10
30
Farmer
30
40
Farmer
35
12
10
4
2
40
Farmer
250
39
18
15
11
6
4
Iowa
1
(1
28
100
Norway
24
**
4
1
39
Wisconsin
Farmer
Norway
32
"
9
7
"
3
((
1
Iowa
27
Farmer
Sweden
21
"
2
Wisconsin
32
Farmer
150
Norway
30
"
6
"
4
Wisconsin
2
"
24
Farmer
New York
20
Ohio
2-12
Wisconsin
Julia Johnson
John Johnson
Burre Johnson
*Benjamin Johnson...,
Jane Johnson
John Johnson....
John 0. Johnson
*01e Peterson
Betsy Peterson
Ole Peterson
*John Swenson
Caroline Swenson....
Mary Swenson
*John Trunson
Alvina Trunson
Betsy Trunson
*John Larson
Ann Larson
*01e Larson
Caroline Larson
Ole Larson
Ole Larson
Martha Larson
John Larson
""Andrew Anderson....
Maria Anderson
Ole Anderson
John Anderson
Elizabeth Anderson
Marie Anderson
Andrew Anderson..
Ann Anderson
*John Johnson
Mary Johnson
Henry Johnson
Betsy Johnson
*Peter Pomerson
Ann Pomerson
Peter Pomerson
Ole Pomerson
Callie Pomerson
William Pomerson..
*James Westerwelt..
Ann Westerwelt
Henry Westerwelt..
*George Pompeii
Christina Pompeii....
Maria Pompeii
Jane Pompeii
Even Pompeii
•William Evans
Ann Evans
Thomas Evans
*Heads of families.
In 1861 the Norwegian colony was
joined by others of the same nationalitj'.
The first to arrive were Anders 0. Kirke-
Yoldsmoen^ and family, who located on
^Anders O. Kirkevoldsmoen died while in the
army, and his widow later became the wife of
Englebret Olson Slaabaken. Many of his de-
scendants are now residents of Jackson county.
the northwest quarter of section 3, Des
Moines township ; Anders Monson and
family, who took a claim on the southeast
quarter of section 13, Des Moines, just
One son. Ole Anderson, resides in Jackson:
another son. Anders Olson Slaabaken, is dead.
Bertha, who became the wife of Simon Olson
Slaabaken. and Christiana, who married Ole E.
98
lllSToltV (t|- .lACKSON COUNTY.
west of tlie Mihvankfic depot at Jackson ;
and K. Torreson and family, who settled
on tlio nortliwei-t quarter of section 14.
Des Moines. Several more of the name
of Slaabakeu, commonly known by the
name of Olson, came in 18G1. These in-
cluded John Olson Slaal)akcn.» Mikkel Ol-
son Slaabakcn and Tollef Olson Slaabak-
en with their families and Simon'" and
Peder, single men. Part of these drove
throufih from Jefferson Prairie, Wiscon-
sin, with ox teams, the voyajre taking
two months" time. The others drove
through from Fillmore cnuniy. ^liiinc-
sota. Mikkel settled on Die northeast
quarter of section 28, Belmont, on the
west side of the river; Peder took as his
claim the northwest quarter of section 23.
Ues Jloincs; the others took claims in
Belmont, the exact location of their first
claims being unknown. Others who came
during 1861 were Ole Estensou and Ole
Torgeson and their families, who located,
on sections (i. liclmont, and :M. Chris-
tiania;'* Lars Olson and family, who set-
tled on the northeast quarter of section
30. Christiania — the most northern settler
Olson Slaaliaken. oldest son of KiiKlebrpt Olson
Slanbakcn. are dead. The only lIviiiB daushter
of Anders O. Kirkcvoldsmoen Is Bertha, who
now lives with her hii.sband. Melian Johnson,
In Belniont. Her tirst nr.arrlaRe was to Ole E.
Olson. Jr., son of Knglebret Olson Slaabaken.
and her second marriage to Anders Olson Sla:i-
baken. also a son of ICnBlebret Olson Slaabaken.
both of whi>ni died.
•The widow of John Olson Slaabaken .-itlll
lives In Belmont township, and many of his
descendants are now residents of Jackson coiin-
tv. Ills daiiBhter, Anna, married Ole Brown,
who built the mill at Brownslnirn, and now
lives In Tennessee. Another daUBhter. Lena.
Is the wife of P. H. Berge. of Jackson, Ole J.
and Peter live upon the old homestead In Bel-
mont, Two dnuKhters, Petria and Engebera.
are married and live In Wisconsin.
"After comhiK to the county Simon Olson
Slaabaken married Bertha, the daughter of
Anders O, KIrkivoldsmoen, The living children
of these parents are .Christina (Mrs. George
Omber.'«ont. of Murray county; Maria (Mrs. TT.
H. Herge). of Minneapolis; Helen, of Jackson;
Emma iMrs. Martin Olson), of Jackson; Olierl.
of Jackson. During his life Simon Olson Slaa-
baken held si-veral ililTerent county ofTices and
was a prominent man In the early days of
Jackson county history.
"The claim of one of these men was the
northeast ouarter of section fi. Belmont; the
other was the southe.iat quarter of .section 31.
Chrlstlnnln. both on the ea.st side of the river.
Their cabins were close together, but it Is un-
known which had the Belmont property and
which the Christiania.
(it that time: Hans Kgostolson (Chester-
son) and family, who liuilt a cabin on the
southwest quarter of section 15, Des
>roincs; Lars Ci. .loriievik and family,
who settled in Belmont : Lars Halverson
and family, who took as a claim the south-
east ()uarter of section 2."), Dcs Moinis —
the southernmost of the Xorwegian set-*
tiers; Moisten Ol.son and family, who
.settled on the northwest quarter of section
:i4. Bclmniit : Kmul Langcland ami fnni-
ilv, wlio took uj) their residence on the
southeast quarter of section Hi, Belmont. '-
A few .Vmcricau liorn settlers also caim-
to Jackson county in 18<!1 and located at
dillVrent jiuiiits along the river.
Tlic breaking out of the civil war in
1S(;1 vitally alfettcrl the jicoplc in this
frontier .settlement and gave .lackson
county a reputation lor patriotism equal-
ed by few eommunities. Nearly all the
ai)le bodied men in the county enlisted
and fought witii the union forces during
Ihc war. Captain 0. ^L West, of the
liome guards, enlisted twenty-two of his
company in the Tiiited States army in
September, .\sonly thirty-lhiee votes were
east in the loiinty al the fall elec-
tion, it will be .seen that (his with-
.Irawal left the people of the frontier set-
tlement in poor circiimstance.s to with-
stand an Indian attack, as they were
called upon to ilo the next ytar. The com-
piiiiv. |iartlv enrolled from Jackstm coun-
ty and commanded by 1>. ^I. West, served
for a time as the second company of
Minnesota cavalry, hut later becnme com-
]ianv 1 of the Fifth Towa cavalry. Of
the twenty-two enrolled from Jackson
eountv following are the names of nine-
teen of the lunnber:" D. ^f. West, caji-
tain; Ole Hurreson. Edward Davics. Hans
'=.\mong the Norwegian settlers of ISC.l no
one of the heads of families is living in Jack-
son county, although many of their children
ore
"The list Is furnished me by Stiles M. West,
now of Faribault. Minnesota.
S
o
X
«
w
2;
o
be
c
2 J
a o
I § §
g » s
"^ o o
^ .S W
^ ca ^
S S o
<« •§ 5
J= 03 .2
CCS
•- o <*
c i2 •
a> o) o
o . O
Ph o c
to X
X O H^
E~* a)
- O M
c a>
^ '5 £
H <j S
S c
o o
c <:
O o
J2
3
CQ
JTHENEWYOKiT
PUEUCUBRARY
TH.atM fc
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
99
Jolmson, Ole Larson, Bartholomew Mc-
Carthy, Andrew Monson, Andrew Olson,
Andrew Olson ( Kirkevoldsmoen) , Tollef
Olson, Peter Olson, Simon Olson, Ole E.
Olson, William H. Pease, Henry E. Tro-
bridge, James E. West, Stiles j\I. West.
jr. F. West and H. F. West.
Pev. Peter Baker held protracted re-
ligious services in the log house of Jo-
seph Tliomas during the winter of 1860-
61, and afterwards organized a Methodist
class. During the summer of 1861 lie
organized a Sunday school in the Wood
brothers" store building. For many years
this good man attended to tlie religious
wants of the people of Jackson county
and became a highly respected and in-
fluential man in the community. This
he did largely without pay. In after years
he stated- that during the first two years
of his service his only recompense was
tlie kitting of a pair of socks !
There are very few items of interest
to record for the year 1861. Except the
enlisting of so great a proportion of the
able bodied men. nothing occurred to in-
terrupt the even tenor of the lives of the
frontier settlers. The new arrivals of
the year selected their claims, built log
cabins and engaged in agricultural pur-
suits on a small scale. At what was known
as Evans' ford, on the southwest quarter
of section 14, Des Moines township, the
erection of a sawmill was commenced, but
it was never finished.^''
An interesting historical document is
the assessment list of Danby township,
which included the whole settled portion
of the county, for the year 1861. The
total tax levied was $161.68 and was di-
vided as follows:
"At thi.s point, in 1862, was lield the first
fourth of July celebration in the county. The
work of constructing the mill was in progress
at the time, and many of the settlers were
assisting with the work. On the open ground,
on the east side of the river, a few of the
neighhors gathered in honor of the nation's
birthday. A flag pole was erected and the
American colors were flown.
State taxes ■. $20.13
Interest on public debt 15.55
School tax 26.13
County tax 31 .29
Town.ship tax 31 .29
Other special tax 31 .29
Total $161.68
Tile names of tlio.^e who were assessed,
the value of the property owned and the
amount of the individual taxes were as
follows :
PROPERTY OWNER
D. P. Cornell
S. T. Johnson
E. D. Shore
Alex Wood
S. D. Brown
B. McCarthy
A. L. Crane
Ira Camfield
Gelden Carter
Marcellus Clough ..
Joshua Dyer
Louis Eskerson
Ole Eskerson
Lewis Estenson
Nathaniel Frost....
Lewis Halverson ...
Knud Halverson.. ..
Thomas Holston
Add Halverson
Hans Johnson
Lewis Jameson
John Knudson
L. H. Landaker
Lewis Lewison
Joseph Muck
Andrew Monson
Jacob Nelson
Knud Nelson
Burre Olson
Englebret Olson
Simon Olson
Ole Olson
F. Andrew Olson ...
John Olson
Tollef Olson
Jared Palmer
Ole Peterson
William H. Pease...
D. S. Perkins
John Swenson
Joseph Thomas
H. L. Thomas
Christian Torreson..
Ole Torreson
H. R. Trowbridge...
John Trunson
D. M. West
S. M. West
Ole Anderson
I. F. Eddy
Totals..
Assessed
Total
Value
Tax
$ 685
$ 10.64
570
8.84
684
10.60
695
10.80
907
14.06
192
2.99
85
1.34
137
2.13
165
2.57
69
1.08
13
.20
431
6.68
101
1.56
1.52
2.37
23
.36
107
1.66
176
2.73
146
2.27
178
2.75
149
2.32
129
2.01
81
1.25
289
4.49
54
.83
196
3.04
70
1.09
40
.62
322
.5.00
277
4.29
172
2.68
9
.15
243
3.77
117
1.81
70
1.09
164
2.54
222
3.45
360
5.58
43
.67
90
1.40
111
1.71
250
3.88
18
.27
70
1.09
128
1.97
175
2.73
222
3.45
417
6.46
22
.35
121
1.87
271
4.19
$10,518
$ 161.68
635887
lOti , HISTORY OF.l
Tax paying soonis to luivo l)i?en out of
fashion in tliat early Jay, for we find
among the records a settlement sheet dated
Fel)ruary 28, 1862, signetl by Ole Peter-
son as county treasurer and Joseph
Thomas as county auditor, in which it is
stated that out of the total tax of $101.08
levied only $47.08 had been paid, while
$114.00 was delinquent.'"' The treasurer's
fees of $2.35 were deducted from the tax-
es collected, leaving the magnificient to-
tal of $44.73 as the amount of taxes re-
ceived i)y Jackson county for the year
ISCl !
The as.sessment for tiie year 1802 was
made by James 1"]. Palmer. He found 57
people ill the ciumty jjossessed of personal
property, and the total amount of the tax-
able property was found to lie $12,192 —
a small gain over (hat of the year l)c-
fore. In the county of Jackson there
were at the time (so the assessor rc-
])orted) three watches, manufacturing in-
dustries to the value of $40, no jiianos,
twelve head of hor.^es. no mules, 25) .sheep,
134 hogs, 320 cattle, 43 wagons, and
moneys and credits to the value of $1,351.
Following are eight of the names a|)])ear-
ing on tiie list and the a.ssessed value of
their prcipcrty :
TCihvanI havics .$(14 4(1
Natliani.O Frost 123.00
Lewis llalvorsoM !()(!. 30
Kii^'li-lirot Olson 77 .50
Simon Olson lOfl.OO
.lanios !■:. Talnier (iiOl)
.larod I'alnior 331 .30
Joseph Tliomas 349.50
Tiie year 1802 o)icned aus]iiciously. A
few more settlers came and located claims
"Those who had paid tholr tnxe.s hi full be-
fori' thi.s settlement were S. T. Johnson. IJar-
Iholomew MeCarlh.v. Marcellus Cloutth. Lewis
Estenson. Nathaniel Frost. Lewis Halver.son.
Thomas Holston. Atld Halverson. Knud Nelson.
Ole Olson. F. .\ndrew Olson. D. S. Perkins.
John Trunson and I. F. Edd.v.
\CKSON COUNTY.
along the Des iloines river. Crops nf h .rcat,
corn and vegetables were jjlanted, the ricii
virgin soil, warm sun and copious rains
hastened the growth of vegetation, and
the prospects for a bounteous harvest were
favorable. The ])eo])le were happy and
contented in their new found homes. Had
a census of the county been taken tliat
year there would have been found between
2110 and 300 people. 'J'he residents had
little communication witli the outside
world. There was no postolfice, no tele-
,i;iapli line, no stage lines. The nearest
>(iiliiiiiiiis were at Estherville and Spirit
l.al<i'. Idwa. and the nearest point from
which must of the su))])lics could !)!■ pro-
cured was Mankato.
.\loiig the river from the ]iresciit site
III' Jackson down were American born
lamilics. .\loiit; the river above the site
of Jackson, in Des Moines, Helmont iuul
Christiania townships, the settlers were all
Xorwegians, arrived only a few years be-
fore from their native land, understand-
ing and s]ieaking very little English. They
had few dealings with the outside world
Mini very little intercourse with their Am-
erican liorii iieighhors down the river:
their interests were centered in their
homes. Altiuuigh these Norwegian settlers
had loc!ite(l on the exposed friuilier, al-
most in the heart of the rndian country,
they knew nothing of the linliMii cusloms
or Indian warfare. They were unaccus-
tomeil to the use of lireanns and many of
them had proliahly never lired a gun in
their lives; many of the able bodied men
were absent, fighting their ado])ted coun-
try's battles.
So much for the condition of the pon-
])le of Jackson cminty in 1802, liefore the
outbreak of the terrible Sioux war.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BELMONT MASSACRE— 1862.
IT IS not my intention to tell of the ilrove ott' the savajies. They killed an In-
Sio\ix war of 1863, except so far as rlian named Big Head and wounded three
Jackson ^county enters into the his- others. The testimony of the Indians wa.s
tory. But it may be of interest to learn that they found the Minnesota settlers
the magnitude of this famous Indian war. ";,s easy to kill as sheeiD.'"'
The outbreak was the most remarkalile and The attack on the Norwegian settle-
noteworthy incident of the kind in Amer- j^ent of Jackson county occurred on Sun-
ican history. More white people perished ,].^y^ August 24, 1863, and for the second
in that savage slaughter than in all the time in its history the soil of Jackson
other massacres ever perpetrated on the
North American continent. Add the
number of white victims of the Indian
wars of New England during the colon-
ial period to the list of those who perish-
ed in the Wyoming and Cherry valleys,
and to tlie pioneers who were killed in
the early white occupation of the middle
west and the soutli, and the aggregate
falls far short of the number of the peo-
ple of Minnesota wdio were slain hy the
Sioux ill less than one week in that meiu-
orable month of August, 1862.^ Al)out
eight hundred people were killed within
a few days, before any efJective resist-
ance could be brought against the red
demons. Only two Indians were killed
outside the battles and legitimate skir-
mishes. One of these was at a point below
Jackson, near Spirit Lake, where three
county was crimsoned with the blood of
its citizens as the result of Indian at-
tack; for the second time the county was
abandoned by white men. Thirteen whites
were murdered, a few others were wound-
ed, ami many narrowly escaped with their
lives.
So early as June reports reached the
Belmont settlers that there was likely to
be trouble with the Indians. On only
one occasion, however, did the Indians
who sometimes visited the settlement show
any signs of hostility; the exception was
the wanton killing of an ox belonging to
Ole Larson, of Christiania township.
Finally the rumors of an outbreak were
confirmed. A German fleeing from New
Ulm brought news of the attack on that
village, which had occurred only a few
days before. He could not impart the de-
settlers were attacked by a superior force tails of the tragedy on account of his in-
but won tlie fight by their bravery and ability to speak English, but the settlers
could understand enough to know that
'Minnesota in Three Centuries.
101
102
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
New Uliii had had Iroublc with the lii-
diaus.
The Rohnont .settlors seem to have been
undecided wliat eour.«e to jnirsue. Nijihts
tliev gatliered at the ditrereiit eabins that
.seemed to offer better protection or wliere
tlie firearms and ammunition were kept ;
their fears wore not so groat during tlie
day time, and generally they returned to
their homes in the morning to attend to
the farm work. .\ decision was fimilly
reached that stockades should be built,
and ^londay. Augu.^t 25, wa^ rhe date sot
for the settlors to get together and select
the sites. On the day before this was to
have been done the attack was made and
there had been enacted the drama of bru-
tal and beastly bloodshed -which depo])u-
latod the county.
It was a few days after tlie attack on
the Lower Agency and four davs after
the massacre at Lake Shetek, in Murray
county, that about fifty of White Lodge's
band of Sisseton Sioux proceeded down
the Des Moines river, apparently to repeat
the performance of Inkpaduta of five
years before." They proceeded as far south
as Englebret Olson Slaabaken's home on
the eoutheast quarter of section 22. Bel-
mont townshiji. without making their pres-
ence known.' Then instead of proceed-
ing down tlie river, they began the at-
=The route of the Indians into Jackson county
Is not known dclinitoly. but it is supposed thiy
came by way of Fisii lake. I^ower's lake and
Independence lake. H.id tbey followed the river
bank. It Is almost certain they would have been
discovered before reaching the point where the
attack was begun.
'So far as Is known. T.ars Olson was the
only man In the settlement who saw the In-
dians in a body; consequently he was the only
-competent authority as lo the number particl-
paling. He estimated the number at fifty. Mr.
Olson, who was an old man living on section
30. rhrisllania. had been down into Belmont
township on Sunday, and while returning, when
a little north of the Ole Fohre home, he came
upon the party of savages in the woods, before
the attack was begun. He was not seen by
tile Indians, nor were the Indians recognized as
such i>y him. He supposed they were soldiers,
come to the defense of the settlers, and was
accordingly thankful for their arrival. Mr.
oison continued his Journe.v home, and neither
he nor his wife saw the Indians afterward, al-
though the red men must have passed close
to his house.
tack and retraced their steps up the river.
The attack was begun at ten o'clock in
the forenoon.
The attacking savages divided into small
))artics. and, going swiftly from cabin Ui
cabin, they took the inmates by surprise
and encountered no resistance except in
one instance. The men, women and cliiM-
ren were shot down without warning and
without an effort to save their lives ex-
cept in flight.
.\t the Ole Fohre home, on the north-
west quarter of section 22, Belmont, sev-
eral families had gathered, namely, Jo-
hannes Axe and wife, Lars G. Jornevik
and wife, Mrs. Carrie Fohre, the wife of
Ole Fohre, and her twelve year old son,
Ole Olson Fohre, and eight small children
l)elonging to the several families. Here
the massacre was begun at ten o'clock in
the forenoon. When the Indians were seen
a])proaching, Mrs. Fohre, Mrs. Jornevik
and Mrs. Axe with the eight small child-
ren wont into the cellar, the tra|) door
was closed, and twelve year old Ole Olson
Fohre ])iled clothing, l)oxes and trunks
over it. The others remained upstairs.
They barricaded the doors, but being with-
out anus, their efforts to guard the cabin
wore futile.
The Indians approached the cabin from
tlie east and burst in the east door. All
who were in the cabin, except the boy.
were instantly killed, and no one know.s
the particulars of their taking off. Jo-
hannes Axe was evidently pounded to
death, as no bullet woumls were found on
his body. Lars Furnes and Lars O. Jorne-
vik' were shot.
*Lars G. Jornevik w.i.'^ a oiao with a violent
temper and In some particulars lacking In
Judgment. When he was advised, some days
previous, that It w:»s proltnltb- the Iiuli:ins
would come and to prepare himself. Mr. Jorne-
vik flew Into a violent rage, staling that he
was ready for thi- Indians any time they wanted
to come. He lllled his i>oekets with stones and
considered himself amply protected. When his
dead- body was found, his pockets were filled
with the missiles which he had not opportunity
to use.
HISTORY OF JACKSOJST COUXTY.
103
When the east door was broken down
and the Indians entered the cabin, Ole
Olson Fohre, the boy, who was standing
guard at the west tloor, bolted out that
door and ran down a trail that led to a
spring. Hearing the door slam, the boy
looked over his shoulder while running
and saw an Indian taking aim at him.
With presence of mind he made a quick
jump to the left into the brush. He dodg-
ed Just in time to save his life, for the bul-
let struck him, tearing away the tip of his
right elbow. Ole hid in the brush, and the
savage who bad fired followed and search-
ed for him. When the Indian was only
about three feet from the boy's hiding
place, he gave up the search and returned
to his companions at the cabin — the In-
dian's love of "firewater" saved a life. One
of the first acts of the savages was to search
the wagons, which had been brought from
Mankato the day before, loaded with pro-
visions, and just as the Indian was about
to discover the boy in the brush, the
others at the cabin found a jug of whisky
in one of the wagons and raised such a
shout of joy that the one after the boy
gave up the hunt and hastily rejoined
the others. Safe from imuiediate pursuit,
Ole ran through the timber down the riv-
er to find a place of refuge and to notify
the other settlers of their dang-er.
About the time these events were tak-
ing place at the Fohre home, Ole Fobre,
the owner of the cabin, was found by the
Indians in the timber, between his house
and the river, and killed. The place of
this murder was on section 21.
The an.xiety of the fugitives in the cel-
lar while the murders were being commit-
ted over their heads cannot be described;
so still were they they scarcely breathed.
Their fears were made worse bv the cry-
ing of the two year old babe of ^[rs. Lars
(!. Jornevik. That lady, -with beroi.-m
seldom equaled in the annals of Indian
warfare, knowing that the painted de-
mons surrounded the hou.se, deliberately
came out of the cellar to accept her fate.
To the other ladies she said: "I under-
stand my time has come; I must go up
again. Y'our children are smaller than
mine and they keep quiet; if I stay here
the Indians will find us." She came up
from the cellar with the child and was
killed, her body being horribly mutilated.
Fortunately the Indians were busy with
their whisky and did not learn from
whence Mrs. Jornevik had come.
The child was unharmed, but soon it
began to cry. The door of the cabin had
been left open, and the baby was fright-
ened at tlie hogs, which came into the cab-
in. One of the ladies came up, found
the child in its mother's blood, and took
it back into the cellar "and cared for it.
Then it was learned for the first time that
the savages had left the vicinity. For the
time being let us leave the two women and
the children in the cellar, debating the
course of action to pursue, while we con-
sider events that were taking place in
others parts of the settlement.
Close to the Fohre home, ilikkel Olson
Slaabaken was killed and his nejDhew, An-
ders Olson Slaabaken, the thirteen year
old son of Englebret Olson Slaabaken,
was seriously wounded and left for dead.
The Englebret Olson Slaabaken home was
half a mile south of the Fohre home, and
also on section 22. About the time the
attack was begun, Mikkel and his nephew
started from that place for the home of
Ole Fohre. They heard the firing but
thought nothing of it, as they supposed
the neighbors were shooting blackbirds.
They soon, became aware of the serious-
ness of their condition. The Indians were
stationed along the trails in the tim-
ber, and the unfortunate white men
were soon discovered. The savages fired
and the white men set out on a run
101
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
tliroujrli tlie tiiiilior. ^likkel was hit at tlic
(ii^t liiL' and oxclaiiiietl : "1 am wouiidod
and cannot nm any I'artlier." Immediate-
ly lie was hit a<,'ain and killed instantly.
A bullet from the first volley pa.ssed
through tlie hat hrim of the boy, and a
moment later another one inflieted a
slight scalj) wound, plowing a furrow
through his hair. Anders was not stun-
ned or ba<lly hurt, but he was so seared
that he fell and lay with his faee to thi^
ground. The savages lanie up and one
of them plunged a knife into his left
side and, a.s the victim described the event
in after years, "twisted it around before
he pulled it out." The Indians left him
for dead and Anders lost consciousness.
When he came to his senses he crawled
to his father's home. There was no one
there; the Indians had visited the ])lace
and taken everything in the line of ]iro-
visions. The wounded lioy made liis way
to the log stable and hid in a manger,
where he remained three day.« witli noth-
ing to eat except two raw eggs. When the
cows came home at night he tried to milk
them, but they would not allow him to
approach them nn account of ihc Mood on
his clothes. From the time of the attack
on Sunday until Wednesday Anders re-
mained in the manger ; then he was found
by a rescuing party and taken to Esther-
ville, where he slowly recovered from his
wounds.'^
From the Fohre house the Indians went
to the honu' of Knglebref Olson Slaabaken.
a half mile south, but all the whites tlu-rc,
e.vcept the two mentioned, had gone to
church. Here, after ransacking the ]irem-
ises, the Indians gave up the idea of go-
ing farther south, and began their trip to
the north. Had it not been for the fact
'.■\nilir.') Olson Sla.-ibiikrn Uitcr rptiirned to
Jack.son county, and nftor hl.s father's death
became the owner of the Belmont farm. He
became a respected resident of the county and
died on the old homestead on September 26,
1885.
that many of the settlers were away from
home, gathered at the Rainlo house and
other places in religious worship, there is
every reason to believe that the massacre
would have been much more terrible than
it was. When the murdering savages
came to the house of Englebrct Olson Slaa-
baken and the houses of others who were
ai the meeting and found thfin unoccu-
pied, they feared the settlement was
aroused and that the people had gathered
at some place to put up a fight. As an
Intlian detests a fair fight more than
anything else, they decided not to go far-
ther south, but to begin their bloody work
and make their escape before it became
necessary to fight.
On their trip nurlh (jirobably), at a
point a few rods west of the Ole Fohre
home, the Indians came upon Knud Miil-
stad and his wife Breta and murdered
them. These nnfortenate people lived on
the west side of the river, and were on
their way to Ole Fohre's when thev were
ambu«hed on the trail.
To return to the women and children in
tbe cellar of the Ole Fohre cabin. When
it was learned that the Indians had left
tbe immediate vicinity, Jlrs. Fohre and
Mrs. Axe decided to seek another place of
concealment. Accordingly they came
forth with the children and hid in a corn-
field. The savages, returning from their
visit to the Slaabaken home below, again
came to the place of the original attaek.
and when they fouiiil that refugees hail
been hidden in tbe cellar at tbe time of
the first attack but had now escaped, (bey
were very angry and spent considerable
time searching for them, .\fter the mur-
derers had gone the second time the wom-
en started out with the children for the
south and spent Sunday night in a black-
smith shop on the Englebret Olson Slaa-
baken farm. The ne.xt morning, not hav-
ing ba<l anything to eat since the attack.
#Lf«Nf 0( ivN
<inh£vui Ol»^»/*l
THE NORWEGIAN SETTLEMENT
Map Showing Cabins of J^orwejrian Settlers at the Time of the
Belmont Massacre and the Route of the Indians. Des
Moines, Belmont and part of Christiania
Townships Shown.
HISTORY OF JACKSON" COUNTY.
105
tlipv started out again for the south in an
endeavor to tind a phice of safety. The}-
liad jn'oceeded to a jioint soiithwe.'^t of tlio
present site of Jackson wlien they met
Knud I.nniiehnid returning- from Spirit
J.ake, and were piloteil to a place of
safety.
After tlie second visit to the house of
Ole Fohre, the Indians (at least a part
of tliem) crossed the river to the west
side, but did not encounter any whites and
returned." Then the band proceeded up
tlie river to the lionve of Knud Langeland,
\vli(} resided with liis family on tlie south-
ea.st cpmrter of section 16. There no warn-
ing had been received, and five human
lives were taken. ]\Ir. Langeland was
down liy tlie river rounding up his cat-
tle at the time of the attack and so escan-
ed. At the house his wife, Anna Lange-
land, and four children, Anna, Aagaata,
Xicolai John ami Knud Langeland, were
iiiiirilered. Jlartha Langeland escaped the
fatc'of the rest of the family by hiding
in a corn field. Two of these children
who were killed were hid in the corn field
at the time of the attack, but when they
saw the Indians attack their mother they
rushed out to her assistance and were mur-
dered, ^[r. Langeland went to the house
after the Indians departed and viewed the
terrible work of the monsters. He thought
he witnessed signs of life in two of his
children. Gathering them in his arms, he
carried them all tlie way to Spirit Lake.
One of the children, died soon after his ar-
rival ; the other recovered.'
'It mu.st not be understood that the move-
ments of the Indians are given from deHnite
knowledge or that tlie chronological order of
events is strictly observed. It is known to
what homes the savages came, but the exact
time at which they appeared and the definite
course they took are unknown. For instance,
the only evidence we have that the Indians
crossed to the west side of the river is the fact
that one of their guns was found at a point
opposite the Fohre home, twenty rods from the
river. .4s it is known that none of the homes
on that side was visited, we conclude that the
red men soon after returned to the east side.
'The name of the child who recovered is un-
known, and may have been included with those
From the Ijangehind home the Siou.x
proceeded on their way up the river to the
homes of Ole Estenson and Ole Torgenson,
where they arrived in the evening about
dark. Tiiese men were the only ones in the
settlement to make any effort to save their
lives except in flight; they had the old
Berserker blood in them and put up a
good fight. Messrs. Estenson and Tor-
genson barricaded one of their houses sit-
uated on the southeast quarter of section
31, Christiania tow-nship. and made other
preparations to defend their families.
They had guns and ammunition and the
knowledge and disposition to use them.
When the Indians appeared, they called
til the white men to come to them. In-
stead, the white men ordered their fam-
ilies to lie down and returned the fire of
the enemy so successfully that they fought
off every attack. Volley after volley was
poured into the house, and the bullets
penetrated the walls and roof, knocking
down several articles that were on shelves.*
Tlie white men loaded their army mus-
kets with slugs, and, as it had become
dark, they fired only at the flashes of the
Indians" guns. No one within the cabin
was hit, and the attackers finally de-
parted. The defenders did not know
whether or not they hit any of the sav-
ages, and had no evidence that thev did."
mentioned as having been killed. If that is a
fact, only twelve met death in the Belmont
massacre. Mr. Ole Anderson, who has fur-
nished me much of the data concerning the
massacre, places the number killed at thir-
teen, but is uncertain in regard to the Lange-
land children.
"An amusing feature of this attack was the
rage of one of the Norwegian women. A cook-
ing utensil was knocked from its place on the
shelf, and the lady of the house became so
angry she jumped up vowing vengeance on
the redskins. Had she not been restrained it is
possible she would have rushed out and put the
savages to flight.
'This statement is made on the authority of
Ole .\nderson, who interviewed Messrs. E.sten-
son and Torgenson a short time after the mas-
sacre. The author of Minnesota in Three Cen-
turies, recently published, was incorrectly in-
formed in regard to the result of this fight, for
he said the defenders believed that they had
wounded several of the savages and knew that
they had killed one. because his carcass lay
fifty yards from the cabin for anyone to see.
106
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
After tlieir repulse tlie Indians went
down the river and made camp Sund;i\
night on the southeast quarter of section
8, Belmont township.'" Tlie next day
thej' proceeded up the river on the east
side without renewing liostilities. The
Des Moines river was crossed, and Mon-
day night camp was made on the south-
west quarter of section 24, Delafield town-
ship. Thence the Indians continued their
journey to the nortii and out of Jackson
county.
The Belmont massacre was over. Thir-
teen innocent people had been murdered
in cold blood. Several of the bodies were
mutilated, but no scalps were taken.
None of the cabins and no property was
burned. The savages carried away much
property, and some of this was abandoned
or destroyed on the march out of the
country; otherwise there was no destruc-
tion of property.
A recapitulation gives us the following
as the losses in the Belmont massacre:"
"The statement has been made that the at-
tack on the Christlania home was not made
until Monday, after the Indians had left this
camp, but the best evidence Is to the effect
that the attack was made Sunday evening.
"For some reason no authentic account of
the Belmont massacre has heretofore been
written, and there is a wonderful lack of gen-
eral knowledge of the details of the terrible af-
fair. There are differences of authority even as
to the date of the massacre In Jackson county.
1 he inaccuracies of the printed accounts of the
affair are shown in the following extract from
Norwegian Settlers History. i>ublished In the
Nurweglan language in I'.IOS by J. M. Ilnlland,
A. M.. of Ephriam, Wisconsin:
"On Sunday morning, August 24. 1SG2, be-
fore any preacher ever found his way to this
wilderness, the new settlers, after having an
al)undant harvest, felt thankful and happy to
God and gathered to a prayer meeting In Mrs.
Holstin Olson's house. She had a sweet voice
and had just finished a hymn when the door
flew open and a half-grown boy. the son of
Ole Forde. entered, dripping with sweat and
blood. 'HuiTy up! Hurry upl' he screamed,
gitsping for breath, 'the liullans are coming!*
Thi-y were so astonished and frightened that
they rushed to the door to escape, but were
too late. The Indians had surrounded the cabin.
Then followed a hopeless light with bare fists
again-st the Indians' bright tomahawks and
bullets. The women's praying for mercy was
mixed with the Indians' yells of exultation over
K 1 1.1. Kit
Johannas Axe
Lars Fumes
Lars G, Jornevik
Mrs. Lars C. Jornevik
Ole Fohre
Mikkel Olson Slaabaken
Knud Micistad
Hreta Midstad
Mrs. Anna LanReland
Anna Langeland (child)
Aapaata Langeland
Nicolai John Langeland
Knud Langeland
^v(»i'>'iii:i>
Ole Olson Fohre
Anders E. Olson Slaabaken
Langeland (girl)
Fortunately some of the settlers Avere
gathered in religious worship at the house
of Taral Ranilo, on the southwest quarter
of section 34, on the west side of the
river, and so escaped the awful carnage,
as the Indians did not go farther south
than section 2'-?.'= Hol.-:ten Olson was
presiding over the meeting. The congre-
gation was just beginning a hymn when
Ole Olson Fohre, the boy who had been
wounded but who had escaped from the
savages, arrived with the startling intel-
ligence that the Indians were murdering
the settlers on the east side of the river.'''
their victory. The women were compelled In
stand while the Indians took the children by
their lulls ai.d crushed their skulls against Ih.
trees.'*
"This meeting had been called at the Instance
of Holsten Olson and was for the purpose of
attempting a consolldalion of the two n-ligious
factions in the Norwegian settlement. Holsten
Olson was the leader of one faction and Burre
Olson of the other. Burre Olson did not at-
tend, but he and a few of his friends held
another meeting at his house on the southwest
•luarter of section 11. Des Moines township, at
Ihe .same time.
*^01e .Vnderson. now n resident of Jackson,
was a playmate of the Fohre bo>* and was th<'
first to see him as he came running to gi\'e th*-
alarm. He met him .some distance from th'
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
107
The bloody condition of the boy added
to the alarm his words conveyed, and all
was confusion. The people were panic
stricken and huddled in groups around
the log building. Excepting one gun,
they were without arms or ammunition.
Like the pioneers of the Springfield set-
tlement had done five years before, the
panic stricken people decided on fliglit to
tlie Iowa settlements. Some of the peo-
ple had come to the meeting with ox
teams. These were quickly hitched up,
the elderly people, the little children and
the wounded boy were loaded into the
wagon boxes and hay racks, and the start
for the south was begun. The main party
was preceded by Ole E. Olson Slaabaken,
son of Englebret Olson Slaabaken, and
■ Sigur Chestersoa, son of Hans Chester-
son (Kgostolson), who ran ahead and noti-
fied the settlers on both sides of the river,
thus performing a daring and (if the
Indians had come) valuable service. The
boys spent Sunday night at the home of
Henry Olson, on tlie state line, and Mon-
day carried the news of the massacre to
Estherville.
AVhcn the party had proceeded only a
short distance on the way south, at some
point on section 3, Des Moines, they saw
someone in tlie distance to the north,
and their fears were redoubled. Holsten
Olson, the only gi-own man in the party,
deserted the others at this point and
started off across the prairie alone."
Simon Olson, who in later years was Jack-
son county's judge of probate, went from
Mr. Ramlo's house to that of Holsten Ol-
son, three-quarters of a mile north, secur-
ed what guns and ammunition were there,
and then hastened soutJi, going down the
meeting house and ran with him to warn those
gathered at the houi^e. When thev got within
hailmg distance it was Ole Anderson's liistv
voice that gave the alarm.
"A little son of Holsten Olson followed his
father and overtook him. Mr. Olson and the
boy went fir.st to his house and then struck off
across the prairie and in time reached Mankato
east side of the river. When he had pro-
ceeded on his way nearly a mile he dis-
covered that he had forgotten the percus-
ion caps. Although haunted by the
fears of danger from lurking savages, he
bravely retraced his steps, .secured the
caps, and again hastened on his way.
When Holsten Olson left those who
were going down the west side of the river,
that party consisted of three or four wom-
en and many cliildren, and it was a badly
frightened, terror stricken little band of
refugees that sought safety in flight that
Sunday afternoon. They continued their
journey to a point where the business cen-
ter of Jackson is now located ; then forded
the river and arrivei! at the house of
Joseph Thomas. Before the party went
up to the Thomas home, Mrs. Kirkevolds-
moen sent her two children, Ole (Ander-
son) and his little sister, to reconnoiter
while the rest remained hidden in a ra-
vine. Tlie children silently climbed the
hill through the woods and when they
came in sight of the premises were over-
joyed to see Simon Olson, who had arrived
a little before, on top of one of the build-
ings on tile watcli for Indians. The chil-
dren returned to the others and all pro-
ceeded to the house.
Other .settlers of Belmont who had es-
caped the tomahawk and rifle of the In-
dians made their way south on tlie east side
of the river in little groups. On the way
through Des Moines township other
settlers, till tlien ignorant of the danger
tliat tlireatened, joined the fleeing groups,
all instinctively going to the Thomas
liome. Most of these parties had arrived
by four o'clock. A few of the settlers
farthest up the river did not get out of
the country until the next day, and, as has
Ijeen told, the women and children who
had been at the Fohre home spent Sun-
day night at the Englebret Olson Slaabak-
108
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
pn fariii. and then starti'il nut on fonr
for Spirit Lake.
Wlicn the fleeing refugees readied the
Tlionias idaco that gentleman advis^ed
them to stop there, offering to turn his
house into a tort and to help build a sloek-
ade. He believed they hail enough arms
and ammunition to hold the i)laee until
soldiers who were staliniicd at Iv-^llier-
ville could be summoned. .Mrs. Thoma.<
(ires.sed the wounds of the injured hoy
and distrJluiUd food to the hungry and
frightened people. .\1 ter siijiper had ijeen
eaten the Norwegians decided to continue
the journey south. As Jlr. Thomas could
not hope to defend his place alone if the
Indians came he decided to accompany
the others. Accordingly they helped him
hitch up his o.xen to a wagon, a few
goods were loaded in, and the whole party
set out down the river a little before dark,
traveling together. Darkness came upon
them when they were in Petersburg town-
.sliip, and a rain came up. Camp was
made near the state line and a restless
night was passed in tJie rain. The ne.xt
morning they proceeded on their way to
Esthervillc and met a rescuing party near
that town. None of the refugees got as
far as Estherville on Sunday.
News of the hostility of the Indians
and the massacre in Belmont townsliip
was carried to Spirit Lake, and on Mon-
day, August 2o, a deiaehmcnt of mounted
men proceeded to the Indian scourged
country."' After reacthing the Des Moines
river this party wa.s joined by another winch
had started from I'sthervillo on the same
mission,"' and all jirocecded to tJie seenn
of the ma.-isacre, which was reached either
M(uulay evening or Tuesday.
'J'hc sight that met the eyes of this re-
".\mnng the p.Trty from Spirit I.akr wrri> R.
A. Smith. Daiili'l Bpiinitt. John I'hlpplii. .ludKe
Conpl<?tpii. John Gilbert. 1.. K. KInK. (). t".
Howe and several others.
'•I.ansinK Thomas. James Palmer. Simon Ol-
son and John Olson accompanied this party.
lief expedition beggars description. Ly-
ing here and there on the prairie and in
the woods, jiLst as they had fallen, were
the bodies of the victims. The dead were
buried where they were found," and the
twelve or fifteen men, women and chil-
dren who had been unable to get away
were cared for. These were found hiding
ill various places, almost too frightened to
recognize their friends. The grief and
distress of the survivors was heart i-end-
jiig. Of one family only one helpless
child, too young to fully realize its con-
dition, was left; of another, only the falh-
er, who had escaped by being in some
distant field, had returned to lind his
dear ones lying about, murdered and hor-
ribly mutilated; of one or two families
not one was left to tell of the awful deeds.
The relief party scouted the country for
Jiidiaiis. but foiiiiil none. They s|iciit a
few days Iniiiting for and assisting tlie
frightened survivors out of the country.
Some of the stock was rounded up and
driven to the owners at Estherville and
Sjiirit Lake. When it was learned that
the savages had left the vicinity a few
of the settlers came back for their live
stock and goods, but they made haste to
again get out of the country, leaving cvciy-
iliing that was not easily moved. Many
of these stopjied at the home of l?ev. I'cler
Baker, in Petersliurg township, <ui
tlieir way to the Iowa towns. Phina Bak-
er, in a li'lirr wriitrn .Fainiary l!i, 1S!I!I.
said :
Many of tlic'se wi-re vrrv lmn;;ry.
os|)ocially those whom the soliliers foiiml liiil-
iiig in tlie woods. A party of nine wlio were
"In November. 1899, the bodies of the vic-
tims were disinterred by Ole Anderson and reln-
terrcd in the eity park in Jarkson. ThronKh
the effftrts of Mr. Anderson and other residents
of Jaeks()n ronnty and of Rei)resrntative Jnlni
Baldwin and Senator 11. K. ilansiin the .Min-
nesota leglsl:iture of 1909 appropriated $2.0ijo.
available July 31. 1909. for the erection of a
monument in the villaKe of Jackson to the
nienKU'j* of those killed in this massacre and
those in the massacre of IS.ST. Ole Anderson.
T. J. Knox and Henry .\nderson were named a
commission to superintend the erection. The
monument was erected in the fall of 1909.
HISTORY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
109
in the cellar when the Indians came and look-
ed down, but who were so still that they
were not found and escaped, came to our
house; some that were in hiding fled from
the soldiers, thinking they were Indians. For
the first two days I think mother's tal)Ie was
never cleared, for as soon as one lot left an-
other took its place. Field corn was just
large enough to cook, and the big wash boiler
was kept full and boiling all the time.
For a short time tiie county was en-
tirely deserted ; not a human being had
Iiis habitation within the boundaries of
Jackson county. The county gOTernment
■was suspended^ the officer.s fled, and most
of the records were lost. Jackson county
was put back to where it had been before
1850. ilost of the Norwegian families
went to AVinneshiek county, Iowa, and
Houston county, Minnesota; the other
settlers made temporary homes at Sjiirit
Lake and in otiier nearby settlements.
Xews of the great Siou.x war, which was
being carried on in all parts of Minnesota,
came to the settlements on the frontier
and the greatest alarm prevailed. Con-
cerning conditions in the Spirit Lake set-
tlement, Mr. H. L. Bennett in 188.5
wrote :
This intelligence created the most intense
excitement. The settlements in the county
[Dickinson] at this time were Spirit Lake,
Tusciilum. Okohoji and two or three families
on the Little Sioux_, southwest of ililford.
Messengers were soon sent to all these points,
and the settlers, greatly alarmed, hastily
gathered their most needful and valuable arti-
cles and hastened to Spirit Lake, where prep-
arations were alread_v being made for defense
against the Indians. The court house win-
dows were bricked up. leaving portholes to
shoot through. All guns and ammunition
were gathered up and everything was done
to make the defense as complete as possible
considering our numbers and the limited
moans at our disposal. A company was or-
ganized for defense, composed of every man
capable of liearing arms. Officers were chosen,
and everything was done in as military a
manner as possible. Pickets were kept out
at all times at various distant points to pre-
vent a surprise.
The ])eople of this county remain-
ed at the court house most of the time for
about three weeks. The loss to settlers in
various ways by this mode of living was very
gn'at. A good deal of stock was left to run
at large, and as a consequence nearly all the
cro])S were destroyed, causing considerable
suffering. In doing chores, looking after stock,
etc., two or more young men would make the
tour of the various neighborhoods, being care-
ful to be well mounted and armed and to
keep a good lookout to prevent siu'prise from
any Indians who might be lurking about.
One or two families attempted to leave the
county during these trying times, but were
detained, as it was determined that all should
stay and helj) make a defense till help came
from some direction. About this time the
>oMiers arrived from Sioux City,
and a blessed relief it was to the settlers, who
now returned to their homes. Quite a number
of families left about this time, and but few
came in.
CHAPTER IX.
EECOXSTRUCTIOX PEHIOD— 1862-1867.
TTIUS struggled the pioneers of
Jackson county. They not only
had to endure the ordinary hard-
ships and privations of frontier life, they
had to experience the horrors of Indian
hcnnes in Belmont, traveling in a little
caravan of ox teams. Their return was
hrought al)out largely for the purpose of
taking care of tlie cattle, which were re-
ported to be roaming about witliout food.
wars. j\Iany met death at the hands of ]\[ost of the cattle had been driven off by
the Idoodthirsty savages, homes were pil-
laged and laid waste, all were comjielh'd
to flee for their lives. For the second time
in its history Jackson county was depopu-
lated. The few years succeeding the Bel-
mont massacre constitute a reconstructiim
the Indians, but the stock got away and
returned to Belmont.
Disaster overtook the little company
when it had reached a point a little south
of where the Milwaukee depot in Jackson
now stands — on land now owned bv Matt
In it the county was again reclaimed ToUefson. When tliat point was reached
from the savages; the white man Ijecame
the undisputed possessor.
I)es])ite the terrors of living in a country
exposed to Indian attack, there were sev-
eral of the former settlers who would not
gi\e up their homes in the new country.
Jo.scpli Thomas, who had moved with his
it was decided to make preparation.s for
the night's camp, and, because of fear of
possible lurking savages, the camp was to
have been pitched on the prairie, instead
of in the woods. The teams were left on
the trail in charge of the women while the
men A\ent to get water. While thev were
family to vSpirit Lake, came back to take gone a terrific prairie tire swept down
care of his crop, but returned to Spirit from the northwest at race horse speed
Lake so soon as that was done. A nuin- and enveloped the little caravan. The
ber of the Slaabaken or Olson family did oxen whirled and overturned the wagons,
not accompany the other Norwegians to and before the men could reach the dan-
Winneshiek county, Iowa, but remained ger point the women were in a perilous
at Estherville until the latter part of Oc- condition, all of the wagons being on fire,
tober. Then Englebret, John, Simon and When the oxen whirled, Miss Olava 01-
Holsten Olson Slaabaken, accompanied son (now a resident of Jackson), the
by their families and the widow of tlie twelve year old daughter of the murdered
murdered Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, set Mikkel Olson Slaabaken, was thrown from
out to take possession of their deserted one of the wagons into the flames. The
111
11-2
ITISTO-RY OFJACKSON lOlNTV
girl was badlv liiirnoil about tlie knees and
hands, Imt a heavy soldier overcoat saved
her life. ills. Enfjlehret Olson Slaahaken
with her baby juni})cd from one of the
wa^jons and Iteeanio separated from the
rest of the party, llolsten Olson Slaa-
haken was burned so badly that the flesh
fell off his hands and face, and he bore
the marks of his injuries until his death.
Miss Lena Olson, now the wife of P. H.
Berge, of Jackson, was in tlie fire, but
was uninjured.
Witli the wagons on fire a retreat wa.<
made to the Thomas home, where, fortu-
nately, the family was living for the time
being. Seeing the danger the unfortunate
people were in, Mrs. Thomas ran with
water and extinguished the flames on the
first wagon to approach, which was that
driven by Simon Olson Slaahaken. ifr.
Thomas and his son started back to as-
sist the others. They u])set the wagon of
John Olson Slaahaken and extinguished
tlie flames, thus saving the running gear:
the rest of the wagon was destroyed. Has-
tening still farther back to where it was
known that ifrs. Englebret Slaahaken liad
jumped from the wagon, ^Ir. Thomas
found her dead body. On her breast, still
living, was the baby. The infant lived
until midnight and then passed away —
one more victim to the dangers of frontier
life. The dead were Imrii'd in the Michael
Miller cemetery.'
The Thomas homestead was thrown
open to the sufferers, and there the
mournful hand tarried two weeks, 'ifrs.
Tbiiiuas nursed the injured back to life,
and then all pushed mi to their foniur
homes. They found nearly everything
except the cabins destroyed and all the
loose property removed. Wliite men from
other settlement.s had completed the rav-
ages begun by the Indians. Wagon load
'The Bccount of this rtlsristor Is written large-
Iv from an article written by the lato Judge
Simon Olson In May, 1890.
after wagon load had been hauled from the
deserted cabins. Clothing, cooking uten-
sils, machinery, grain and everything lliat
could he moved had been taken, A thresh-
ing machine had been brought up to Bel-
mont from Spirit Irfike and iiiiuli of the
small grain had been threshed and hauled
away. The Slaabakciis made what iiii-
l>rovements they could and spent the win-
ter of 18G2-G3 there. Possibly S(uiic trap-
]ier pitched his tent temporarily along the
river or ou the l)ank of some lake; other-
wise these were the only ones to brave the
dangers of the county.
Again in the spring of ISO;? came In-
dian alarms; a trapper was killed and
another wounded by the hostile Sioux
some sixteen miles up the river. The
Slaabakcns again deserted their homes
and took refuge at Spirit Lake, where
they lived under the protection of the sol-
diers until the spring of 18(i4. Jasejih
Thomas returned again in the spring of
liSfi.'?, hut remained only a short time.
Jarcd Palmer- came at the same time,
took a claim a little south of the Thomas
home, but left temporarily the same yt^ir.
During the suiiniier of 18t!3 they were
the only settlers in the vicinity. In the
fall of that year came Tra C'amfield with
his mother and a few orphan children.
He took a claim a couple of miles south
of Jackson, in Middletowu towushi]), and
spent the winter of 1S63-G-1 there, being
the only residents of Jackson county (hat
winter.''
Before military ]irotection was given
Jackson county a small parly of Nor-
wegian settlers returned to reside perma-
nently in their former homes. They came
early in June, 1864, and were the first to
'Two men with similar names took part In
the early hl.stor)' makine of Jaekson eoimty.
Jareb Palmer was one of the SprlncfleUi set-
tlers, fought at the Springfield ma.'^.saere. and
now livei at T.akefield. .Tared Palmer eame a.«»
deserlbed In the text and wa.s one of the first
county olTlcers.
'Major H. S. Bailey in Republic, March 10,
1SS8.
THE NEW VOT?:- <
PUBLIC LIBRARY
MTOft, LEfH)X ANt
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
113
make permanent settlement after the
massaere. The party drove throvigh from
Houston t-ounty. ilinnesota, ami was com-
posed of the following people: Anders O.
Slaahak-eii (single), who had jnst hcen
discharged from the army; Simon Olson
Slaabakeu and wife;' Mrs. Anders 0.
Kirkevoldsmoen and. her three small chil-
dren, Ole (Anderson), Christina and Bcr-
tlia. Witliout having knowledge that steps
were being taken to protect Jackson coun-
ty, they decided to jnisli on to their for-
mer homes in the frmitier regions. The
first night in Jackson county they camped
at a point a little south of the present
site of Jackson. There they met a small
party of men. including some of the Slaa-
haken family, who were on their way
from Spirit Lake to Mankato for provis-
ions, and were informed that Lars Hal-
verson and family intended to move im-
mediately onto their claim, near their
camping place.
The little party from Houston county
continued the journey the next morning
and arrived at the claim of Simon Olson
Slaal)aken. wlio had earlier in the S]n-ing
hnught of Taral IJando that gentleman's
claim to the southwest quarter of section
34, Belmont. A lesson had been learned,
and now all carried guns and were pre-
pared to make defense against the In-
dians. On the second night after their
arrival a child was born to Mr. and Mrs.
Simon Olson Slaabaken — the first child
li(n-n in the connty after the massacre.'^
At the time of this event came an Indian
scare. All night long the dogs barked,
and the people were in constant fear of
attack by Indians. The men of the party
■'Simon Olson Slaabaken had departed from
Spirit Lake in the fall of 1863 and gone to
Spring Grove. Houston connty. Minnesota,
where some of the Norwegian refugees had
gone, and there married Bertha, the daughter
of Mrs. Anders O. Kirkevoldsmoen.
''This child was named Christina and is now
Mrs. George Ombei-son, of Murray county.
stood guard all night, but they failed to
discover any Indians.
Two days after the birth of the child,
their fears continuing to increase, the
alarmed people could stand the suspense
no longer, and all set out for the settle-
ments. They proceeded down the river
to Lars Halverson's place, where they
found that gentleman and his family.
After a few days sjjent tliere, the whole
party went to Spirit Lake. A little later,
accoinpanic<l by several others of the
Slaaliaki'n family, tlic reliirn tn Belmont
was made.
Bravely they dctcimined to hold their
claims and made such preparation for de-
feiLse against attack as best they could. A
fort, the main building of which was 18x
20 feet, surrounded hy a stockade, was
erected on the southwest quarter of section
34, Belmont. The stockade was built of
logs and covered with sods, through which
holes were left to serve as portholes. For
two summers all the settlers of the com-
munity lived witliin its protecting walls,
spending only such time outside as was
necessary to work the farms; during the
winter months the .settlers generally lived
in their own cabins. At no time during
this period were they entirely free from
fear of attack.
Except for the cahins, most of which
were yet stnnding, these settlers of 18(i4
found the country in practically a wild
state, and were obliged to begin again at
the beginning to improve their claims.
When the sudden departure liad been
made in 1862 most of the hogs of the
settlement had been left. The people re-
turning found these roaming the woods
in a wild state. For several years the
hunting of wild swine furnished sport for
the settlers, and many of the former do-
mestic animals were killed.
It will be seen that the Belmont mas-
sacre resulted in the practical abandon-
114
HIST()i;V OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
niont of Jackson county for nearly two
* years, only a few having the liardihood to
attempt resettlement, and they only in-
termittently. But events were so shaping
themselves that protection was to be af-
forded and the county again inade safe for
settlement.
1 luring the year 18G3 United States
soldiers continued ojicrations against tlie
Sioux Indian?, driving them licyond tlic
ilissouri river. In the fall of (hat year
most of tlie ilinncsota regiments were
sent soutli to figlit the battles of the civil
war. l)ut the Sixth legiment of ilinue-
sota volunteers remained in the state to
liold the land that liad been freed from
savages. 'I'd lucitect the immediate vicin-
ity Major (then Captain) H. S. Bailey's
company of tliat regiment was stationed
at Fairmont and at Elm creek, in ^lartin
county. 'J'hey were supplied witli Iiorses
and were instructed to scout and patrol
as much country as they could cover. In
the month of Manh. ISfil. some of the
Scouts came so far west a.s the Des ^foines
river, and upon their return rciiorted that
they lind found aS nice a country as tliey
ever saw. Major Bailey accompanied an-
otlier party to Jackson county the same
month and was so well pleased with the
location that Ije selected a claim just south
of the ]n-esent village of Jackson proper,
tiled his claim in the land oiTice, and de-
cided to make his home tliere as soon as
he slunild leave the army. Sergeant John
Hutchinson and possibly other soldiers se-
lected claims at the same time.
JIany of the former residents of Jack-
son county were anxious to return and
were ready to do so if military ])rotection
were given. In the month of Ai)ril. 1)^(il,
Joseph Thomas took a petition, signed by
several of tlie former residents, to Fair-
mont and ]iresented it to Major Bailev.
They asked that a force of soldiers he
stationed at some point in Jackson coun-
ty. Major Bailey endorsed the petition
and forwarded it to his commanding offi-
cer, (icneral II. II. Sibley. The general
referred the matter back to the company
commander witli instructions to send part
of liis company to Jackson county and
establish a post if he thought it advisable.
Majni- Bailey accordingly sent a force of
twelve men. commanded l)y a sergeant, to
tlie ])resent location of Jack.'Jon. The sol-
diers took possession of a vacant house.
which was used for quarters, and chris-
tened it Fort Bailey. The .soldiers re-
mained at Fort Bailey only a few weeks.
Then orders were received for the com-
pany to proceed to Fort Snelling to join
tli<' regiment, preparatory to going south.
Fort Bailey was abandoned and never
heard of afterward."
Upon his arrival at Fort Snelling Ma-
jor Bailey liad a conference with General
Sibley in regai'd to the Jackson county
country, and as a result the couipany
wliich rclii'vi'd ^lajor Bailey was ordered
to take its station on the Des ^Moines riv-
er. Lieutenant II. J. I'liillips was the
commanding officer of this company. Tic
erected a log stockad.' with a building at
either end at a ])oint on the hill on the
east side of tlie river about eighty rods
southeast of Joseph Thomas' hou.sc. This
stockade was occupied by the soldiers until
September, 18(55.
.About the same time, or a little lati r
than, the troo])S were stationed on the Des
Moines, two small bodies of Cnited States
troops were stationed in (dlier parts of
Jackson county. 1'art of a eom)iaMv of
the Second ]\!innesola cavalry took post
nil the west .«hore of Little Spirit lake.
one-i|Uarter mile north of the state line.
Thev eanic late in the fall of isr)4 Cl-
early in the .-priiig oC 1S(!.") and remained
aiiout a year. 'J'lie post was e^Iahlishcil
on n little jieninsnla and was nearly sur-
"Fiom the wiitiiigs uf Major II. S. Bailc-y.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
115
rounded by water. Tlie headquarters were
in a large log house which was erected for
the purpose.
The other post was established in 1865
on the east shore of Heron lake, ou sec-
tion 13, West Heron Lake tow^nship. The
fort building was 32x24 feet and was
built of large logs. It contained one door
and two small windows. There were also
five smaller buildings, built of logs and
all located some forty rods from the lake
shore. The fort was occupied by a few-
soldiers until danger from the Indians
was past."
The presence of these troops resulted in
the return of a few of the former resi-
dents late in 1864. A number of the
Norwegian families came back and re-
claimed their lands in Belmont, a few
others reclaimed their homes along the
river farther south, and a few new settlers
came in an<l took claims.
A new era in the history of Jackson
county began in 186-5. The Indians had
Ijeen driven from the country; the civil
war was brought to a close and thousands
of soldiers had been discharged from the
service and sent forth to engage in peace-
ful occupations. It is a noticeable trait
of discharged soldiers that they are not
content to accept the quiet lives they en-
joyed before their army service, but in-
variably push out into new countries. All
parts of the great northwest were rapidly
settled, and to Jackson county came many
of the discharged soldiers looking for new
homes.
A census of the county, showing the
number of inhabitants on the first day of
June, 1865, discloses the fact that there
were 234 residents,* divided among 47
'When Abraham Johnson took the site of the
post as a homestead chiim about 1S70 the build-
ings were still standing. He tore down the
fort building and used the logs in the erection
of a stable, which was put up on the lake shore.
'Other counties in southwestern Minnesota
had population as follows: Blue Earth, 9,201;
Faribault, 4,735; Watonwan, 248; Martin, 1,4.30;
families. Of these 123 were males and
111 females. The census was taken by
Joseph Thomas." Following are the names
of the inhabitants as listed by him :^°
Joseph Thomas,
Jane Thomas,
H. L. Thomas,
E. G. Thomas,
E. J. Thomas,
.Joseph Thomas. Jr.,
M. A. Thomas.
William Webster,
John JlcConnie,
Aaron Hollenback,
Frances Hollenback,
John R. Hollenback,
•Tames Hollenbaclc,
Ransom Woodard,
. Ursula Woodard,
Emily Woodard,
Ellen Woodard.
Jlay ^^'oodard,
Bennett Woodard,
Charles Belknap,
Lydia Belknap,
Minnesota Belknap,
Sarah Bland,
Henr.v Haley,
Harriett Haley,
Alexander Haley,
William C. Haley,
Martha E. Haley,
George R. Haley,
E. A. Haley,
O. 0. Hale.v.
Henr.v K. Evans.
Elmira Evans.
Heorge Evans,
Rock, 23. In Cottonwood. Murray. Nobles and
Pipestone there were no inhabitants.
"'County auditor's office, Fairmont. August
4, 1865.
"I. Albert L. Ward, auditor of the county of
Martin, state of Minnesota, do hereby certify
that Joseph Thomas, the within named assist-
ant assessor, was by me appointed as such on
the 24th day of June, 1S65, for the county of
Jackson, the same being attached to the coun-
ty of Martin for judicial purposes. And I do
further certify that the within is a true and
correct duplicate of census rolls as returned by
the said Joseph Thomas to me, and that he is
entitled to three cents for each person en-
rolled. Total. 233x3 cts.. $6.99.
"Witness my hand and seal of office.
".ALBERT L. W.\RD."
"The list is obtained from the office of the
secretary of state. On it many of the names-
are improperly spelled; in some cases to such
an extent is the spelling incorrect that the
name is hardly recognizable. Through the kind-
ness of Mr. Ole .\nderson and other residents
of 1865, I have changed the orthography of
such and give the list as i-evised. In addition
to the names contained in the census return. I
am informed that there were liviii.g in Jackson
county at the time of the enumeration Mr. and
Mrs. Nels Larson and their familv of nine child-
ren, named as follows: Ole. Lewis. I.evina.
Marie. Bertha, Isabel, John. Lena and Carolme.
It is said also that Thrira Halverson. wife of
Lars Halverson, should be on the list.
lib
HISTOHY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Laura Evans,
May Evans,
Emily Evans,
IWnjamin Dayton,
.Mini. I Dayton.
I-a\irk' Dayton,
EiiinunJ W. Dayton,
.Spcnocr Dayton.
William Daylon.
Sanuipl Hall,
I.ouisn Hall.
Enoin Hall.
Luciptia Hall.
.Tames E. Palmer.
.Anninila I'almcr.
(ii'oifie Palmer.
Eecinidas Palmer.
-Andrew Monson.
Jfetret Monson.
iTolin ifonson (Anilersim).
Mons Monson,
Doretliy Jlonson,
Mary ilonson.
Anna Monson,
Christena Monson,
Herret Monson.
Kreileriek Lyman,
Martlia E. Lyman.
Xaomia Lyman.
Lewis Ijvman.
Israel F". Eildv,
Kollv U. Eddv,
William D. Eddy,
Kraneis Eddv,
Perry E. Eddy,
Emma M. Eddv.
Clark Baldwin,'
Martha Baldwin,
Solomon Dickenson,
May .1. Dickenson,
Catherine Peters,
San ford Peters.
Stephen Dickenson,
David Dickenson,
Sarah Dickenson,
Electa Dickenson,
Harris Dickenson,
Lydia Di<'kenson,
.lolin Dickenson,
.lames S. Peters,
Stenrench Wood,
Anna Wood,
William S. Wood,
JIarquis Loncks,
David Brifiht.
May A. Bright,
.Innier Bright.
Martha Bripht.
Nancy Bripht.
Xoah Brichl.
Victoria Bripht,
Frederick Bright.
Charles Brown.
Minnie Brown,
"forpe Brown,
May William,
Oliver Lee (Brynildson),
Martha Loe,
Brownell Lee,
Henry Lee,
Martin Loe.
• lolin Lee.
I'ctcr P. }laverlierp,
Marion Havcrlierg,
Eiipehor Haverherp,
Marpucrite Marren,
Andrew Olson,
Enpebret Olson,
Kristi Olson,
Ole E. Olson.
Andrew E. Olson,
Anne Olson,
Kristri Helpcson,
Simon Olson,
Betsey Olson.
Anna C. Olson,
Oliver Stall,
Helen Stall,
.John Olson,
Anna Olson,
Kristi Olson,
Anna Olson.
Lena Olson.
Olc Olson.
Pethria Olson,
Peter Olson,
Lars Halversoii.
Sarah Halverson.
Halvor Halverson,
.Anna Halverson.
Lars Halverson, .Ir..
.Idlin Halverson.
Kair Halverson,
-Vrtlinr Halverson.
.\nn Olson.
Christina Olson.
Bertha Olson.
Ole Olson (Anderson),
Peternilla Olson,
Olive Olson.
Kistrie Olson.
Karc'na Olson.
Isabella Olson.
Ole Olson.
Kistri Olson.
Mille Olson.
Nntie Olson,
.•\nn Olson.
Orin Belkiia|i.
Xaomia Belknap.
Henry Lynnin,
\sM\i- Belknap.
.Tune Belknap.
Elijah Bidknap.
,Tohn .1. Udkiiap.
Eilninnd Belknap,
Isaac Bidknap.
Elizahelh M. Canlidd.
,Iolin Cantidd.
Lewis A. Canlicdd.
Nancy Canlicld.
I'pcnia Tailor,
(ieorpc Tailor.
Baldwin Kirkpatrick.
Minehab Kirkpatrick,
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
117
Tliomas Kiikpatrick,
Amancla Kiikpatrick,
Adaliiip Kiikpatrick,
Jlilo Kirkpatriok.
Jute Kirkpatrick,
James Palmer,
Nancy M. Palmer,
.Joseph Palmer,
George Palmer,
Eliza Palmer,
William Palmer,
Miles J. Jletcalf.
Fanny M. iletcalf,
Emerv d. Mctcalf.
Harriet K. Metcalf,
Arnold S. Jletcalf,
Charles H. Metcalf,
Joseph Price,
Sarah Price,
Almea Price,
Peter J5aker,
.Marion C. Baker,
Lon .J. Baker,
Sofroiiia X. Baker.
Harriet E. Baker,
May J. Baker,
Eliza A. Baker,
Daniel Baker,
Eliza Baker,
Cheeny M. Cormick.
Lafayette Cormick,
Emma Cormick,
Erviii Helberon,
Hogan Gilbert,
Engebret Olson,
Carney f)lson,
Ole Oisoii,
Lanilen Olson,
Holsten Olson,
Ingebri Olson.
Ole H. Olson.
Enor H. Olson.
Xels H. Olson.
Tina H. Olson.
Cornelius H. Olson.
Martinus H. Olson,
Julia H. Olson,
Betsey H. Olson,
Nelson 0. Huron,
Len Olson.
Ole Nelson.
Lor Nelson.
John Nelson.
Levena Nelson.
May Nelson,
Betsey Nelson.
J. Mabella Nelson,
Lena Nelson.
Cornelia Nelson,
Nicholas Olson.
John N. Olson.
Samuel N. Olson.
Lenah Olson.
Betsey C. Olson,
May A. Olson.
Many nioro came durino; the siinimor
and fall, and the choice lands along the
Des Moines river were all staked. A few-
families took claim? this year on the banks
of Loon lake and the other lakes in that
vicinity, l)eing the first to locate any dis-
tance from the river. Quite an addition
to the county's j^opulation tliis year were
Major H. S. Bailey and family and twen-
ty men of his company." The newcom-
ers favored the lands upon which there
was timlier, a.s had the earlier settlers,
and the greatest population was along
that part of the river which sustained the
most timber. Consequently the most
thickly settled portion of the countv was
in the vicinity of the present village of
Jackson. At that point, in 1865, William
Webster began the election of a sawmill,
which, however, was not finished until the
next year."
Despite the large increase in population
and the presence of the soldiers, appre-
hension of Indian attack was again mani-
fest in the spring of 1865. Indians ap-
peared in the north part of the county
and attacked two trappers in their shanty.
"The company had left Fairmont in June,
1864. with 101 vigorous and healthy men. It
went south and was stationed at Helena. Ar-
kansas. Within six weeks the health of nearly
everyone was ruined by malaria, and eighteen
men later died from its effects. Of the eigh-
teen, seven were among those who located in
Jackson county.
'-George C. Chamberlin. writing in 18SS. gave
the following history of this pioneer .sawmill:
"In these historical sketches we must not for-
get Jackson's first enterprise. I allude to the
old .sawmill that so long did duty at the east-
ern end of the mill dam.
"It was in 1S64 or 1S65 that a man by the
name of Webster commenced its construction,
but so many obstacles intervened that he soon
sold out to Mr. Welch Ashley, who in 18B6 put
it in condition for duty. He and B. W. .\shley
operated it for two or three years, and here
from morning until night would farmers await
their turn for a few rough boards and dimen-
sion lumber, which readily roid for $25 per
thousand. Here the neighbors became ac-
quainted, discussed with newcomers as they
appeared upon the scene, and talked of the
prospective town, the crops and the country.
"Mr. Ashley sold the mill to PnilPmon FRrr.
a brother of O. S. Farr, and Mr. Farr sold to
an eccentric old bachelor named David Card-
well, who afterwards was found dead upon
the prairie near Le Mars. Iowa, and it is sup-
posed committed suicide. "When railways near-
ed the vicinity the occupation of the old mill
was gone, and the site was purchased b.v Hunt-
er & Strong for a flouring mill, and the ancient
structure, I presume, was converted into stove
wood."
118
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
Tlie alarm wa.'^ given by a boy named Kirk-
patiiek, who had been trapping in north-
ern Bolmont townsliip witli a man named
Hnskins, of Eslherville. Ilaskins was
isliot through the hip, luii managed to
erawl into liiding in the brush above
]<rownsbiirg. The boy made his escape
and notified the soldiers down the river.
A Seoul ing party found Haskins and
brouglit him in. Init no Indians could be
fiuind. Tlio Mikiieis notified the settlers
and assisted them to the stockade, where
most of them reiuiiined for a few days.
Then, being satisfied that the Indians had
left, all departed lor their lioines. .\ per-
sonal incident of tlie alarm has been told
by Mr.s. Clark Baldwin (now Mrs. A. B.
Allen) :
The spring [of I8Gr>| iilso broiif;lil an unoasi-
nf-ss about tlic Indians, as tliis was on tlie i'.\-
treme frontier. We liad the soldiers stationed
here, to be sure, but the stockades were far
apart and there were so few settlers that we
V. ere but a handful in comparison with the
hordes that niifjhl eonn' upon us. And at one
time we thonf;lit they were upon us. 1 think
it was in May. .About three o'clock one morn-
ing we heard a rap at the door and on in-
quiring found it to be a squad of soldiers
who had been sent out to warn and take into
the stockade all the settlers for protection
from the Indians, and it was supjioscd theic
were many in the vicinity. Wiien
the warning came to us we were not long in
responding. One of the soldiers afterward
said he had always heard it took a woman
so long to dress, but he knew of one that
wa.sn'l long about it. After that knock on
tlie door it wasn't three minutes before I was
ready and on the horse behind a soldier, ready
to march to the stockade, where it was
lliought best we stav for a few davs. which I
did.
The poimlation of Jackson comity jiad
reached such a point in the fall of 18G5,
with such excellent prospects of a con-
tinuation of immigration the following
year, that it was decided to bring ahout
the reorganization of the county govern-
ment. The legislature had. early in the
year, attached the county to Jlartin co\in-
ty for judicial purpo.oes," but there was
".\ll JiirUrlnl orricers of Martin county wire
prantt'd fviM .iurlsdictlon over Jackson county.
the same as if it were a part of that county.
necessity for other branches of govern-
ment than the judicial.
At the request of some of the residents,
(itjvernor Stepiien ililler named Israel
r. Eddy, Charles Belknap and Jared
Palmer commissioners to call and preside
over an election for tiie purpose of choos-
ing county officers. The election was held
at the home of Jared Palmer on Novem-
ber 7, thirty-si.\ ballots were cast, and a
.set of county officials was chosen.'* Ow-
ing to difficulties in having the returns
canvassed and election certificates issued,
it was not until January 27, 18G6, that
the machinery of county government was
set in motion. On that date the first
meeting of the board of county commis-
sioners was held at the home of Major H.
S. Bailey.
The second meeting of the board was
held on March 13, when the county was
divided into commissioner districts and
tlie three most thickly settled town.ships
were authorized to begin township gov-
ernment. These townships were Peters-
burg, Jackson (Des Moines) and Bel-
mont. The first township meeting was
held April 2, 18GG.
Petersburg townsliip wa.s naineii in
honor of Rev. Peter Baker, the pioneer
minister of the gospel and a .settler of
18G0. To it were attached, for townsliip
and election purjioses, the other four,
spar.sely settled townships of the southern
tier. Among the early residents of Pet-
ersburg township who secured land pat-
ents from the government, with the year
in which the patent.* were issue<l, and the
number of the section upon whicii the
settler had his claim, were the follow-
ing:"
The net was approved by the governor February
in. 1.S65.
'*For the names of the first officers and other
items concerninK the orpanizatlon the reader Is
referred to the political chapters of this volume.
•'The year the patent was issuecj precedes the
name; the section numlier follows the name
and Ik in parentliesis.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
119
1866, Isaac BelUiiap (0): 1868, M. W.
'Ilionipson (U-7), diaries W. Belknap (18);
ISOy, Men/.o L. Asliley (18); 1870, Ira Cam-
field (6-7), Samuel Hall (7), Miles J. Metcalf
(27), Josepli Trice (27), Peter S. Baker (27-
28), Daniel Baker (28); 1871. Ole Johnson (2),
Epliriam Eby (14), John C. Hoovel (33), Ho-
gan Gilbert (34); 1872, Stephen E. Ford (6),
John Loi;ue (8), Eric Sevatson (34), Even
llerbrandson (34); 1S73, Albert D. King (4),
Edward F. Mather (4), J. N. Thompson (6),
.lames W. Dunn (6), .Jtsse A. Patterson (7),
Andrwv J. Patterson (8), John L. Ashley (12),
Chancy \V. Cornish (20), John Haniiey (24),
(George D. Stone (34) ; 1874, Solomon Mid-
daugh (20). George L. Fortner (28), Edward
Gruhlke (30), Bottol (Jlson (.32), Bjorn Bjorn-
son (32): 1875, Samuel Clayton (12), Lyman
W. Seely (22); 1876, Edward Bolter (14), Nel-
son Graves (20), Hebrand Bjornson (22),
James N. Xe^vton (24), Eugene Logue (26),
Martin Logue (26), August Gruhlke (30) ; 1877,
.Jared Haskin (24), James H. Baker (28); 1878,
Assor Olson (26); 1880, Sever Knudson (26).
Jac-k.siin township (lenaiiifd Ues Moines
by act of tlie board of county eonnnis-
sioners May IG, 18(jG) had the otlier town-
ship.* of the tier attached to it at the time
of organization, as well as the tier nortli
of it. It hist tJie northern tier early in
1867 by the organization of Belmont
township, Wisconsin in 18G9, and the
townships to the west in 1872. Follow-
ing are the early settlers of Des Moines
who received titles from the government
and the years the patents were issued :
I860, Daniel P. Cornell (2-3). Alexander
Wood (24); 1802. .Joseph Arthur (14-22-23),
Israel F. Eddv (24); 1S63. James E. Palmer
(24-2.5): lS(i4,' Stephen F. Johnson (13-23-24);
186.5, Hans Johnson (15-22), Jo-^eph Muck (15-
22), .Joseph Thomas (24), Stiles M. West
(25), D. M. West (25); 1866, Artlrar L. Crane
123), Bartholmew McCarthy (24), Isaac
Wlieeler (27), Wilson C. Gari-att (34); 1867,
Ann Olson (3). Edward Davies (10-11), Nathan
J. Woodin (10), Ole Larson (12), Henrv Haley
(22). Henry K. Evens (34); 1868, Simon Olsoii
(3-4), (Jle' Burreson ( 10-11-14-15). Heirs of
John Olson (11), Palmer Hill (14). Abram
Kalder (20), Lewis L. Miner (22), Nathaniel
Frost (23-24); 1860, John Olson (3), Mary D.
Ashley (26); 1870. Clark Baldwin (13).'0tis
S. Farr (26), .Jeremiah Prescott (30). Benja-
min W. Ashley (34|, .James S. Williams (35):
1S71. Oliver Stall (2). William Burreson (11-
14). Sylvester Kingsley (10), Thaddeus Puck-
er (20), Alonzo Blake (21), Ahimaaz E. Wood
(23-26), Lars Halverson (25), Philip Yates (28-
20); 1872, Halver B. Lee (2), Darby Whelan
(4), George W. Woodin (10), Andrew Monson
(13), William A. Stewart (18), Henry A. Wil-
liams (20). Hiram S. Bailey (23-24-25), Ben-
jamin D. Dayton (26), Charles H. B. Greene
(20), Matthew Smith (21)); 1873, Milton Ma-
son (4), Martin L. Bromaghim (12), Alpheus C.
Marshall (12), Welch Ashley (12), Hans Ches-
terson (15), Stanton F. Stone (18), Hiram II.
Stone (18), Emmet Miner (20-21), Joseph E.
Fields (26-27), Horace L. Trumbull (27), Levi
Bennett. Jr. (28), Henry Blakey (28), Edward
J. Orr (29), .Jesse E. Prescott (30), Orson Cook
(30), Michael Smith (30), William R. Maddock
(33), Edward Davies (34); 1874, Hans Stall
(2). Hans Hanson (2), Erick Christianson (2),
Edward Blakey (27-28) ; 1875, Harvey Page
(4), Patrick Dailey (14), .James Kerr (28);
1876, Alfred H. Cady (4), Hiram Samson (10),
Michael Riley (20);" 1877, George P. Lee (.35);
1878, John 11. Willing (18); 1879, Jacob Bas-
tedo (18).
Belmont townshiiD was created by the
board of county commissioners March 13,
18G6, at the same time as Jackson and
Petersburg, but the organization was not
perfected until January .5, 1867. At the
time of oi'ganization the other townships
of the tier were attached to it, and on
.\pril 10, 1869, all of the townships of the
northern tier were given it for township
purposes. The name was given in honor
of the old Belmont townsite. Almost
without exception the early settlers were
Norwegians. The following were granted
land patents in Belmont in the years
named :
I860, Edward S. Love (6); 1868, Heirs of
Lars Larson (8-17), James Murry (32); 1869,
Simon Olson (33-34), .John Olson (34); 1871,
S. Amundson (22), Nicholas Olson (28), Hol-
sten Olson (34); 1872, Ole .Johnson (8), Milo
Larson (28). Anders Olson (.34); 1873, Ole An-
derson (4). Thomas Larson (4), .John Hanson
(4), Paul Hanson (4), Knud Johnson (6), Nube
Olson (8), Peter Amundson (8), I^ars I. Brata-
ger (20), Englebret Olson (21-22-27), Peter
Larson (22), Peter .Johnson (22). Thron Thom-
son (26). Peter P. Haverterg (34); 1874. Heirs
of .Joseph Thompson (14), Samuel Nelson (14),
Andrew .Johnson (20), Anders R. Kilen (20),
Iver Thompson (24), Christian Olson Lilleherg
(28), Ole 0. Sandager (30), Even Larson Kjels-
ven (32). Hans Stall (34): 1875, Nils Larson
(2), Ole Peterson (12), Anders L. Kjelsven
(20), Erick Rasmussou (20), Johan Fransen
(20), Ole Olson (24), Beret Olson (26); 1870,
•John .Johnson Scrove (2), Claus Hanson (2),
Jjars J^arson (2), Kriste Olson (22): 1877, En-
glebret L. Thomson (12), Segar H. Chester
(18) : 1878. Marie Halverson (20), Ole E. Olson,
Sr. (22): 1880, Ole S. Sogge (10). Andreas
.Johnson (18), John H. .Johnson (24); 1881,
Thore O. Fladgard (14), Bereth Olson (22);
120
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1SH:». (tie Jl. Lee (241. Taul 11. raiilsmi CiO) ;
1885, U. Tolli'fs<>ii (IS): lS8(i, 'J'liroii L. Tliroii-
son (2ti|.
.MiiiiKMita lownsliip was (luiti' uarly
settk'il on account of (ho miincnuis lakes
within its bonler.s. 'J'lic residents jieti-
tioned for township government, ami on
October 1."), 18()(i, the commissioners
granted the request. Bv tlie same act
there were attached to it the west lialf of
the ])re.seftt ^fiddle-town townshiji and
all of the jiresent towii.sjiips of Sioux \'al-
lev and Koiiud Lake. Minneota is a Sioux
word meaning- "much water," and was .«i()
named because of its group of lakes. An
early settler by the name of Chandler
suggested the name. Titles to land in
Jiinneota were issued to the follnuiiiir
early settlers in the years indicated:
18(i!t, Martin 1). McUulf (2.j) ; 1870, Ca-orj-c!
Kllct (14), .laiiU's S. I'eters (24-25); 1871,
ia)ciiezer U. .Milliiril (Id). SunuicI \V. l!inf;i'ss
( 14-2:!). < 'Lilian liuivji'ss \-l'.i), .lolin Kii-lianlsoii
(2.3-2(!), Tiiiiolliy t'. .lolinsoii (24), Siimtu'l
Hiowii (:t4-:t5l. Abner H. Stimsoii (35): 1872,
(iulcoii K. TilVanv (8). l.-.a(lor A. .Moioaux (10),
Kraiuis Iti'rrahaiii (.'U): 187:!, Walter A. Davis
(12), Isaae Circt'nwood (24), lleniian 1'. Willn-r
(26), Lucius Bonlwcll (20); 1874, Samiirl Dav
is (12), Henry Sliapley (22), William C. Hates
(22); 1875, lienrv S. 'Ciaves (4i, Xatlianiel li.
Fletcher (4), II.' P. Hallanl (14); 1877. .lolin
Lucas (22), Hiram II. Siiudmls (20). Ole Wil-
son (28), .lolui -Xnio (:i4l: 1878, .lolin I'". Baker
(0), Hans ('. (ivcrson (28). .lolin Cillillan (28|.
Ahnim (lilfillan (28), Ole Olson (:!2); 187!t,
.lolm K. Bunker (20), .lacoh Larson (.•»()). Lars
t'lnistensoii (:t2) : 1881. Lodawick Kailer (2).
Lvman Wilcox (30): 1884. Charles L. Stoihhud
(18): 1,88.-). fieorge Ttaker (18).
There was a large immigration in lS(i(i.
and Jackson county received new settlers
from Jill parts of tlic east. Nearly all of
those were poor peo])lc who came for the-
]mrpose of bettering their condition in
the new country, ■\\iiere they miglit be-
come land owners. Conditions were as
unlike those of the present time as night
is from day. There were no wagon roads,
and traveling was a difTicult and often
dangerous undertaking. The newcom-
ers found only three or four .schools in
the whole coimty and no churches, al-
though traveling ministers of the gospel
occasionally preaciied at private hou.ses.
Frame buildings were scarce. In the tim-
IxmimI districts log hou.ses were built: in
the prairie ,seclions sod houses or dug-
outs'" furnished the home?. 0.\ teams, or
perhaps an o.v and a cow, attached to a
lumber wagon provided the means of con-
veyance. The scythe corresponiled to our
mower and the cradle and rake to our
binder. There were no railri>ads. no tele-
graph and t('lc|ih(inc lint's. and oiilv one
poslolfice in the county. The pwiplc were
not blessed with ihe advantages thev now
enjoy: their energies were exerted in the
strife for exi.«tence: their andiition was to
become the owner of a ])iece of land. John
Da vies, a pioneer settler, in after years re-
called early day conditions and said:
How well <lo T rememlier seeiii}; tlieni clothed
in dilapidatcil <.Minieti|s ,iii(l out at their toes.
(Irivinf; their ox teams hitched to rickety huck
hoard vehicles to town and elsewheii'. and
whenever I see their (dd roads which nn-amier-
ed over these nndnlilinj; plains (over which
they mogffcd alon;:, oft.'ii with liunps in their
throats, hut larpe hopes in their hearts) liein;;
obliterated by the pl.iw I can hardly ri'frain
from tears.
The records of the county go\ciiiii]eiil
lor the year ISdd liirnish us mauv in-
teresting items of the conditions and
times. We learn from the.«e that the first
.school district was created on ^larcb l.'i.
lS(i(i, and included pait of Des Jfoines
Inwnship east of the river and several sec-
tions in Wi.sconsin town.«hip.''
'"••'I'o the pioneers of tho.se dav.s llial word
lihiKoiitl would explain Itself, but to the r.-ad-
ers of this worthy iiaiier. who live in i-leKant
city homes and have never seen or been famil-
iar witli frontier life, perhaps a word of ex-
lilan.illon will bi' necessary as to how these
were l.iilll. Kirsl a lellar was diiR with steps
JeHclinu therefrom: thi-n Iors were lalil aliotil
the tops of this and a roof placed on tlu' top
of those; gable t nds and a door were m.ide: a
sipiare was diiK into the side of the walls and
a dry Roods box inserted for a cii|iboard: an-
other made an excellent clothes press. No
need of a lire escape In n house like thisi The
roof Itself was of dirt."— Thomas Goodwin In
Repiihllo. March 1. I.sn.i,
''The first twelve school districts were or-
Kanizc'd on the dates (tlven and with boundar-
ies as follows:
No. 1— March 1.1. lSf.6. Commencinc at the
northeast corner of section 17. Wisconsin:
thence running west on that section line to
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
121
The total taxable joroperty in 18G6 was
less than $3G,0U0, and was assessed ia the
names of 73 owners. The tax levied
amounted to -$718. "lO. The names of those
assessed and the amount of each one's tax,
as equalized by the county board, were as
follows :
PETEliSIiUEG.^^
Peter Baker .$6 . 82
W. C. Garratt 3 .4.5
Samuel Hall 3.82
Even Herbrandson 6 . 00
Samuel Brown 1 . 50
Solomon Dicken.son 2 . 83
Hogan (iilbert 2.39
Levi C'amfield 1 . 00
.Jolm Hoovel 7.10
James 8. Peters 5 . 00
M. J. Metcalf
Martin Metcalf
Erwin Hall 2 . 06
Ira C'amfield 3.21
Charles W. Belknap 1.77
Jo.seph Price .02
L. H.. Lyman 7.97
.$50.80
the Des Moines river; tlience running in a
soutlierly direction, following the river, to the
section line of 25 and 36; thence east to the
southeast corner of section 29; thence north to
the place of beginning.
No. 2— September 4. 1866. All that territory
in Des Moines township which lies west of the
Des Moines river.
No. 3 — September 4, 1866. Commencing at
the northeast corner of section 32. Wisconsin;
thence running south to the southeast corner
of section 17, Petersburg; thence west to the
southwest corner of section 14, Middletown;
thence nortli to tlie township line between Des
Moines and Middletown; thence east on tlie
township line to the Des Moines river; thence
following the river in a northerly direction to
the section line of sections 25 and 36, Des
Moines; thence east to the place of beginning.
No. 4— November 7. 1866. The south half of
Petersburg township.
No. 5— March 17. 1S67. The townships of
Belmont, Enterprise, Heron Lake, West Heron
Lalie and Alba.
No. 6— May 25, 1867. Sections 22. 23, 24, 25.
26, 27, 34, 35 and 36, Minneota township.
No. 7— September 20. 1867. Sections 15. 16,
21 and 22, Des Moines township.
No. 8— September 25. 1867. Sections 17, IS.
19 and 20. Des Moines township.
No. 9— December 21. 1867. The east half of
sections 20. 29 and 32 and all of sections 21, 28
and 33 and the west half of sections 22, 27 and
34, in Wisconsin township, and the north lialf
of section 4 and the northwest quarter of sec-
tion 3 and the northeast quarter of section 5,
in Petersburg township.
No. 10— December 24, 1S67. Sections 1. 2, 3,
4. 9, 10, 11 and 12, Des Moines township.
No. 11— January 7, 1868. Sections 28, 29, 30,
31. 32 and 33. Des Moines township.
N'o. 12— March 10, 1868. The west half of
Minneota township.
'"It will be remembered that Petersburg and
Des Moines were the ordy townsliips in which
the township organization had been perfected
in the summer of 1866, the other territory be-
7
DES MOINES.
il. S. Bailey $32.60
A. E. Wood 27.10
Nathaniel Frost 14.40
Asa Southwell 16.00
H. R. Trowbridge 17.60
H. K. Evans 4.52
A. Miner 50.48
E. S. Love 20.80
D. P. Cornell 10.00
Clark Baldwin 20.68
Welch Ashley 110.80
I. F. Eddv 38.46
M. Cloiigh 29.72
F. R. Lvman 4.71
.Joseph Thomas 43 . 88
B. H. Johnson 10.00
James E. Palmer 16.24
D. M. West 16.80
Jared Palmer 3 . 06
P. P. Haverberg 1 .96
I, Wheeler 2.00
Lewis Lyman -90
R. N. Woodward .86
Hans Stall 2.96
Simon Olson 4.40
Edward Orr 4.30
H. L. Thomas 14.38
Holsten Olson 6.80
John Young 4.22
H. H. Stone 4.22
Knute .Johnson .96
Nicholas Olson 17.86
B. W. Ashley 2.56
Orrin Belknap 7 . 30
Lars Halverson 5 . 20
Henry Haley 4.28
Englebret Olson 17 . 86
H. A. Williams 1.20
Anders Monson 5.26
Peter Johnson 2.20
.John Hanson 4. 14
John Olson 3.32
Oliver Stall 5.40
John Johnson 2.48
J. N. Thompson 8 . 20
Andrew Olson .28
Englebret Olson 4.96
Nels Larsman 3.28
Peter A. Aas 9 . 98
Thomas Larson 3 . 50
Nube Olson 3.28
Cieorge Palmer 2.44
B. Kirkpatrick 1 . 84
Lars Rasman 3 . 64 ■
N. J. Woodin 80
J. H. Lvman 3 . 00
$601.73
Total for county $718.59
According to tlic leturn of products as
ing attached to them. The lists for these two
townsliips include the names of all the tax
payers in the countj', the southern tier of town-
ships being listed under Petersburg and the
rest of the comity under Des Moines.
122
HISTORY OF JACKSON OOTTNTY.
prepared l)_v Auditor C'lurk Baldwin frdiii
returns made by the townsliip assessors,
tliere were only 270 acres of land ])ut
into crop in Jackson county in 186G. The
abstract of tbe acres under cultivation
and tbe yield by townships of the variou-^
crojis is shown in tlie next column.
An act of the niitional conj^ress in 180(1
had a disastrous effect upon the far olV
county of Jackson — an act which resulted
in rctardinj; the settlement of tbe county
to a great extent and for a <;reat many
years. By the act, approved July 1. lS(!(i.
entitled "an act making an additional
grant of lands to the state of Minnesota,
in alternate sections, to aid in the con-
struction of railroads in said state," cer-
tain lands were granicd to the state of
Jlinnesota for tbe purjjose of aiding in
the construction of tbe Southern .Minne-
sota railroad from its then western termi-
nus, Houston, to tbe west line of tbe state.
Tbe Minnesota legislature on February
25, 18fi7, accepted tbe trust created by
this act of congress and granted tbe lands
to the Southern Minnesota Hailroad com-
])any, binding tbe ctin[)any to complete
tbe road to the state's western boun(biry
by February 25, 1877. As .«oon as the
bill became a law, the railroad eomi)any
put surveyors in the field and located a
line. Tben tbe company selected tbe odd
numiiered sections for a distance of ten
miles on each side of the surxeyed line.
and tbe land was withdrawn iVom home-
stead and preemption entry. .Viiout tbe
same time another large grant was made
to assist in building tbe .Sioux City & St.
Paul road, the two grants taking from
I lie government nearly one-half the ter-
ritory of Jackson county. The same year
(iit.OOtt acres of internal improvement land
was selected by tbe slate. The hinds in
.Tackson coxmty which were left for tbe
bomeseckers were therefore greatly re-
duceil. Had the granted lands been placed
;. _'.
- £
= = =
=
r.
o
C 1 (i 1
1
u
u
c
t2
3
3
O
t-_
3
c
CQ
a.
S
00
j:
•a
*^
o
c
oocc :
■*
o
1
t-oi :
t-
c
^
r~t
01
>
_ 'a
m
CC ' f^ c^
CD
i
m -Jol^
OT
m
S"
fi
w^
be
X
B
to :toc
a>
"~ c
i-< : t-m
f^
'i
u
t- : r^
o>
<
_o
m
~ "o
V u
'U
'Z
p
c
3
O
i
i
^
OU3CO
00
1
c
«
m
s
»-H
1-t
E
I
1^
IN
~ E
c
B
3
M
s ;a
^
~ E
3
o
O
— u
;:?
:J
< V
M
<
^H
i-H
-*.*
U5i-(^-i O 1 C>
~ c
s
SSS'lS
•»
2
OQ
IM
- !•=■
c
:^
^* vf
' Is
(2
<
UJUSt-
^ S
>>
9>
5
a
§ : :
. §
— OJ
b2
1 =
n
C
u
<
*"*
•"
«
I5glg
o
e|
a
t* -^ •'T
: S
s*'
i
GQ
<N
cc
- ="0
s
lO-HCX)
: -^
<"Z.
o
t-ej.-i
-c -j;
u
^H
4J C
<
- =P
-,
inej :
u 9.
2
a
O
s
a
.>2
J
04U5 :
rs
.2 1
<
«E
tC-HtO
: «
1
•
5SS
I s
1
8832
! S
" c
: 3
7 1-
•
i> V
•*e* •^
" 1
"5
paiBAiiino
|!g5
^
saaoy
1 o*"
- u
_ 0)
.C in
•^•0
CU
a> 3
•"^
CQ
0)
c
•a
'^.
1
5^
2
III]
-^
E V '
a
?— " t
9
H
a^£-i
.C
THE NEW YORk'I
PUBLIC LIBRARY
TN.OEN FOuNOATiatit^,
Jilc.
mmAmm
HISTORY OF JACKSON COtTNTY.
123
upon tlie market at a reasonable price the
results would not have been so disastrous.
The railroad lands were not placed on the
market until years afterward.
By 1806 the settlement had reached
such a point that its permanency was as-
sured. Not again could a handful of In-
dians cause the abandonment of Jackson
county. The most thickly settled com-
nnmity was along that part of the Des
Moines river which flows through Pes
Moines townshijj, and here, in the latter
pari of the year, was founded the village
of Jackson by Welch Ashley and Major
H. S. Bailey. The sawmill began opera-
tions, a store was started, stage lines be-
gan operations, and a few of the conveni-
ences of the outside world came to the
heretofore isolated settlers.
Time is required to put a new country
on a self-sustaining basis, and the prod-
uct returns for the year 1866 show that
Jackson county had not yet readied that
point. The bulk of the immigration had
come in 1866 and the big majority had,
of course, not raised a. crop. Supplies
were from necessity brought in from the
outside — principally from Mankato and
Garden City — and as there were no roads
or bridges and the streams almost im-
possible to cross in time of liigli water,
much difficulty was encountered in pro-
viding the necessary supplies. What is
known as the "starvation period" in Jack-
son county's history resulted.
The snow was very deep and the weath-
er severe during the winter of 1866-67,
and the new settlers were illy prepared for
it. Many had come late in the season,
bringing but few supplies with them and
with small means to purchase more. Dur-
ing the fall and early winter most of the
provisions that had been brought in were
e.\hausted, and on account of the difficul-
ties of travel it was almost impossible for
even people who had the means to obtain
the necessities of life. Starvation stared
many in the face. The abundance of fish,
wliich the lakes and streams supplied,
saved many from actual starvation. For
weeks some families lived on absolutely
notiiing but fish and milk. Major H. S.
Bailey has written of the conditions that
winter :
I know of some families who became so
weak they could scarcely move around. One
woman was so weak before relief came to
her that she could not even sit up, and one
William McClelland, who lived on the state
line near Spirit Lake, when going past, saw
the condition of this woman, acted the part of
the Good Samaritan, and took her to his own
home and had her nursed and supplied with
such food as her appetite craved, and thus
saved her life.
The state came to our rescue and furnished
us some flour and provisions, but the condi-
tions of the road were such that it was almost
impossible to get supplies here, as they all
had to be hauled from Jlunkato and (iarden
City. However, we got something they called
flour from lake Shetek that was destined to
starve Indians upon; but it got left there
and our commissioners sent teams and got
some of it. It was not much of a luxury, but
it kept soul and body together until we could
get something else.
George C. (!hamber]in also told of per-
sonal experiences during the .starvation
winter :
What provisions were brought in were left
at llr. Thomas' on the east side of the river,
and the settlers on the west side brought their
little parcels in a boat. Every day, and
nearly every hour of the daj', I | wlio was liv-
ing on the Jackson townsite] went over to help
across parties in a small boat and often en-
countered danger in the swiftlv running wa-
ter.
Around Loon lake was quite a settlement, and
I shall never forget the disconsolate look of
the lank and cadaverous man from there as he
emerged from the boat, held up his sack and
remarked, "Twenty-five pounds of Hour, seven
children — nine of us in the family — and I
know not where the next mouthful is coming
from." RulValo fisli without salt was a fre-
i|uent meal during that starvation season. Al-
though many came out '"spring poor" that sea-
son, there were no cases of actual starvation.
When the snow went off in the spring,
traveling was even worse than it had been
in tlie winter. All the streams were swol-
len and out of their banks, and the ground
124
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
was so soft that even empty wagons niireil.
Realizino: tliat somethin<j must be done to
prevent starvation, iho settlers held a
meeting, raised monuv to puivhase flour
and other supplies, and sent teams and
men t<> make an effort to get them into llie
eoiinly. Jesse F. Ashlev, who was one of
tlie men to undertuke this ditfieiiit task,
tells of the trip:
Ijiiit Thomas, Pete Kiiipsk-y and myself
started for (iarden City for Hour April 20,
1807. The snow lieinv; about four feet d( cp
lint melting rapidly, we went with wagons.
When we got to the Hlue Karth river, the ice
had gone out on the west side, so we drove
to the center and cut a chaiiiiel through for
our teams to cross, all getting wet to our
waists. We reached Shelliyvillc about eight
o'clock with our clothes frozen. Pete and I
roomed together that night, and he piled into
bed with his breeches on. giving me knowledge
of how to dry clothing without a fire. He
said he learned that in the pinery. We reach-
ed (iarden City next day, and the next morn-
ing loaded our wagons and started home.
When We got back to the Hlue Earth river it
was nearly half a mile in width and full of
floating ice. Here we camped with oiu- teams
and wagons three days, waiting for the ice to
move and for tlie ferry boat, which was at
Blue Earth City, to come down. While there
we saw a man on tlie opposite side trying to
cross in a row boat. When quite a way from
shore his boat capsized near a tree. He was
able to grasp a limb and saved himself by
climbing the tree. This was in the afternoon,
and he was there all night calling for help.
The next morning another man was seen go-
ing out to him. When he was near the tree
the current became so swift that it upset his
lioiit. too, and he climbed the same tree. By
this time the first man had nearly )ierished
from hunger and cold. When up the tree No.
2 cut a whip and began whipping \o. 1. which
he continued until the other was aroused and
warmed. They were rescued by two men go-
ing up the stream in a boat with aimtiicr
boat tied behind. After securing their own
boat to a tree, they let the other float down
to the captives, holding it by lines. The lines
were cut after the captives had got into the
boat, and the men rowed themselves ashore.
The ferry boat came down that evening and
ferried us over, one team and wagon at a
time, the work taking nearly all day. The re-
maining part of the tiip was rough, crossing
creeks without bridges, taking thirteen days
for the roimd trip.
Then I went back for another load. By this
time the ferryman had a rope across the river,
so I had no trouble in crossing. I got through
very well and my Hour vas put in grain sacks,
the weight, varying from 12."> to 1,10 pounds
per sack, being marked on the sacks in red
elialk. 1 had no trouble until I got near \er-
non. There the country was flat and the
frost was coming out of the ground, so that 1
soon got stuck in a slough. I managed to gel
the team through the mud and water. 1 then
unloaded my flour and I'arried it on my back
to a dry phu'c. I had this to do seven times
before I reached Winnebago. I was a lad of
seventeen and weighed ninety pounds. When
1 got to Winnebago City 1 found A. Miner
there after a load of seed wheat: then I had
company the rest of the way home, lie had a
balky team, so we could not double teams,
and both had to unload and carry the loads
through the sloughs. The Hour cost ,?1,1 per
hundred laid down in Jackson.
Better times came, and a short time aft-
er, the starvation period of 186t)-(iT was
only a bitter memory. New settlers came
in IHiu and selected claims, some ventur-
ing onto tlie prairie lands away from the
river and lakes, ilany hardshijis were en-
dured by the new settlers during the bite
sixties — hardships which arc incident to
the settlement of any new country. Owing
to the long distance from railroads, staple
articles as well as luxuries ruled high in
price. Following were the prices paid for
.some stajile articles during the years ISGT-
()8-(iJ), as recorded in the diary of an early
day settler:'"
Four pounds brown sugar. iisi.OO.
One pound tea, $2.,50.
One gallon kerosene. .'?1.2fl.
Flour, per cwt., $11.00.
One gallon syrup, $1.00.
One paper corn starch. 10c.
One pound raisins, 40c.
One clothes line, 75c.
One paper pins, l.'ic.
One spool thread, lOe.
One package envelopes. 2.w.
One pound salaratus. 20c.
One ponn<l nails, 12'..c.
One bar soap, l.'ic.
One pound rice. 20e.
Lamp cbinini'V, 20e.
One ]iounil salt. Oc.
Calico, per yard. .Tic.
Beef, per pound, 17c.
January r^, 18(ir. tlic countyV
cburcli was organized. It was olTici
named the Evangelical T-ntheran Con
first
ially
srre-
"M. S. Harney in Jack.son County Pilot, 1895.
HISTORY OF JACKSOX COUNTY,
125
gation in Jackson and it wa.s located in
Belmont township.
In October, ISGT, the report of the
county superintendent of schools shows us
that there were eight organized districts
in the county. The amount of money ap-
portioned for school purposes was $156.49.
Of this tlic permanent school fund provid-
ed $102.81 and the county two mill tax
g-avc $53.68.
The tax levied in 1867 was $884.86, di-
vided as follows : State, $24i'.98 ; county,
$495.96 ; school, $99.31 ; township, $28.87 ;
special school, $1-3.84. Of the total tax
levied, $543.86 had been collected at the
date of settlement on April 11, 1868. On
January 8, 1868, the board of covmty com-
missioners examined the accounts of Jack-
son county and found in the county treas-
ury the sum of $30.83.
For the first time in its history Jackson
county furni.?hed jurors for the district
court in 1867, the drawing lieing made
April 1. Following fire the names of the
residents selected for this duty :
Grand — William V. King, WeU-li A.sliley, H.
S. Bailey, B. W. Asliley, H. A. Williams, Sim-
on Olsoi'i, H. K. Haley. A. Miner. .Toscph Thom-
as, Edward Davies, .J. C. Hoovel. C. W. Cor-
nish, Erwin Hall, George W. Woodin, A. C.
Marshall, C. H. Heth.
Petit— P. P. Haverberg, Holsten Olson,
Martin Bromaghim, Marcelhis Clongli, .J. C
Young, H. I,. Thomas, L, E. Porter, Charles
Tuttle, Ira Camfield, K. N. Woodward, A. E.
Wood, H. R, Lvraan, Nathaniel Hall, A. L.
Blake, E. Henkley, J. .J. Smith, Mitehel Bar-
ney, Miles iletcalf, .J. E. Palmer. Richard
Band, R. D. Laniid, L. Rucker, J. N. Woodin,
H. L. Ev.'ns. C. W. Belknap, J. X. Thompson,
.J. E. Fields, .James Williams. Emett Miner,
Wesley Adamson. J. Chandler, George Palmer.
Jared Palmer, Henry Ashley.
The statistical return of products for
1867 is an interesting document. Tt is
learned that nearly four hundred acres of
land were under cultivation that year. Fol-
lowing is the complete return as certified
to by Auditor George C. Chamberlin :
•psinj
_3
>
; lO : cji 1 '^
<
:«> : :
CO
asaaqo
:05 : ;
i
jailing
i
o
100 AV
i
'M 0> O <0
00
Abh
5
:•-' : o
■ T-H . r-(
: oj : .-1
,-H
(M
CO
<
:§8 :g
CO
auSng -m
:o : :
. CO . .
: M : :
o
dna^s -J/i
a
:o : :
:'^ : :
§
suBag
3
CQ
;,-lCO :
. r-t t-H
s;
<
:::? : :
:jr
uiimSaos
u
<
sao^B^oj
3
^00 a. t-
CD "^ i-H t-
t— t
<
UJ03
3
m
urs t- 1/5 <X)
Tf t> CO
CO
<
t-coocg
T— 1 t— 1-H T— t
1—1
i-H
s;bo
3
535
1150
"'50
CO
<
00
CO
}BaqM>iDna
3
: '"' : :
I-H
i
<
\'^' \ :
^BaqAV
3
.-H r-l
<
(M CO lO t-
t-O CO
C<1
pa;BA!;[no
saaay
-^ GO u:io 1 CO
X
O
H
Belmont
Des Moines
Minneota
Petersburg
CHAPTER X.
EEA OF DEVELOPMENT— 1868-1873.
THAT agriL'ulture was not tlic
principal industry during the late
sixties is attested b}- the poor show-
ing disclosed in the returns of products.
During the era of wliicli we are writing
flouring mills and markets were long dis-
tances away. It was not profitable to raise
crops for wliicli tliere was no market, so
each settler raised vegetables and grain for
his own use only, and as a means of in-
come turned his energies in another direc-
tion.
The country was literally alive with
small fur-bearing animals, including mu.s-
rats. .skunks, mink, foxes, martens and
badgers, and the taking of their furs offer-
ed profitalde employment. So the farmer
.settlers became trappers. Inexperienced
at first in the art of trapping, they had no
easy task. They were often caught in the
blizzards miles from home, sometimes be-
ing on the- prairie during a storm of sev-
eral days' duration, where nothing but
courage and physical strength could save
them. But in time all became expert trap-
pers. Generally the market for fur was
good, and the pelts passed as legal tender.
Thousands of dollars worth would lie tak-
en during the season.^
'On the 14th day of May. 1870. there were
shipped frorn Jack.'son to Mankato fiS.OOn musk-
rat and mink hide.s. The shipment was made
by a man named Barkman, of Spirit Lake.
The value of all taxable property in the
county in 18()8 was $57,293, divided
among the four organized townships as
follows: Belmont, $9,132; Des Moines,
$34,408; Minneota, $7,876; Petersburg,
$5,877. The taxes levied that year amount-
ed to $1,781.21, divided among the diifer-
ent funds as follows: State, $279.88;
school, $111.96; county, $577.91; town-
ship, $194.21 ; special school, $617.35.
A healthy increa.ie is noted in the agri-
cultural products for 1868, whicli were as
.shown on the following page."
Jackson county made rapid strides for-
ward in 1869. There was a large increase
in population, numy of the new settlers
])enetrating to theretofore unsettled por-
tions of the county. It Ijecanie known that
the country would produce bountiful
crops of wheat, and the prairies became
dotted with the sod shanties and dugouts
of the new settlers. The increase in the
cultivated area was large, 3,549 acres be-
ing listed as sown to crop. The organized
townships had cultivated areas as follows:
Belmont, 332 : Des Moines, 1.200; Minne-
ota, 131; Middletown, 343; Petersburg,
244 ; Wisconsin, 355. The taxable proper-
ty in 1869 was valued at over $73,000.
The w-estern part of township 102,
=Althoiigli Middletown and Wisconsin town-
ships had not yet been fully organized their re-
ports are included in the return.
127
128
HISTOHV OF JACKSON COUNTY.
•ps\yi
>
w X Csl O l^~ . 1^^
CO -T OS -g: « . "»
<
asaaqo
S
:o : : :p o
: u3 . . , t* w
:t~ : : :io CO
: f-H . . . 04
a3??na
i
•J
U5010000 O
lA 05 CJ -^ to t:* iD
looM
i
OS lOo irt-q; : CO
U3 00 : iO
Xbh
i2
iCO-rrOt"^ CO
. -rr ift — (NOs oj
<
: CDOcoco -^
05
jB3ns -n
3
i"^ : : i"^ (00
• • • 1
daiiCs -W
:s j-^ jSiS
suBag
1
tINlONrHN
c-
•<
ujni{3aog
•3
o
:<js.-i-*o(N
lOSTfCOlOrt
:-q> CO N
co
CO
f-t
1
1 :?:?
: i>.-ico CO
sao;B?oj
1
OJ5D;C-h^Oi
u5 •«9' eo •<i' -"T eo
t
1
oo.-hc*j!d^o
CO rH ?-«
■M
XaiJBg
3
fa
U5rt : ; :eo
■^rt . . .
s
C
<
vrj • ; : ■
.4^ ...
rtoj : :e>i
ujoo
1
USOUJOOO
o
e
<
K>BO
3
956
3452
200
"391
1021
i
a|" ::::&
1— <
1«3MM
2656
6108
404
130
8.5
2106
12,229
s
<
tceooec— ■ t- ■>*
Irt as TJ> U50 r-t
^CO .-1 00
pajEAiiino
sajDy
00 to -qi 00 CO CO
CM
DC
ll<?lmont
Des Moines
.\I iddletown ...
Minneota ;.
I'l'tersburg
Wisconsin
liiii^H' :>A, lying to the east of Des Moiucs
ti)\vn?lii]). received many of tlie settlers of
tlic si.xtie.-!, the niiijorily of them coming
from the >tate of Wisconsin. This town-
.sliip hiul been attached to Jackson, or Des
Muino.'J. township at the time of the or-
ganization of the county, but in the s|)ring
of ISO!) its residents believed their popula-
tion had reached a point where tliey could
support a separate organization. Tiiey.
Ihcreforc. petitioned the county board,
and on April 10 were granted a separate
organization under the name of Wisconsin
(ownhhii), the name being given in lionor
of the state from which so many of the
settlers had come. Those who received
land patents from the government in Wis-
consin township in the early days were as
follow.s :
lS(i2. Jar.a r^iliiur (101: 1865, Joseph Tlioin-
as (l!)).' U. Mortim.T West (.lO-Sll: ISlUi,
.Miiiiiaaz K. Wood (l!)-.'tO). Ocorfr*" rinioriston
(10). Baitliolomew McCarthy (10). Isaac Bel-
knap (.'SD: 18t>7. Ccnr^ic K. Cornish (17). Chris-
tian Kn<.'Icl)rctsnn (30): ISOS. Ri.-hanl linn.l
(•10). Robert II. Kill); (28) . Crcorjie II. Kin};
(■20): 1.870. rrc<lcrick T?. I.vman (18). Kihv;inl
C. llinklcv (221. Irviii;; H.'Portcr (20). Henry
■■<. I.vman (20), Orriii IVlknap (30.11): ISTl.
Kolliii K. Craiduc (2). Ptillman K. Trask (18).
Kansom N. Woodard (IS). Marcellus Cloiit;h
(18), Israel V. Eddy (20), Mitchell S. liarncy
(32): 1872. Kllen M. Porter (.33): 1873. .lohn
A. Myers (0). Lucius K. Marshall ((1). .Inhn
C. Yonn'T (7). William .S. Knnwlton (8). .Tohn
]s]icrwood (10). Andrew .1. Ihirlaml (17). Kicli
;ird K. Howden (20). Charles II. Ilialli (211.
Williiini S. Curtis (21). Trceniau T. IVers (24).
Ilincis'in P. Peers (2ti. William Isinp (28).
Ah'xamlcr Hall (31 ). .Tolin .T. Smith (32). Knud
M. Peterson (34): 1874. Hiram Simpson (Ii).
Alex Galliraith (0). Amos X. Tompkins (2fi),
Harrison L. Thomas (30). Charles H. Sandon
'30). .Tohn K. Johnson (34): 187r>. Trancls J.
KidL'wav (14). Allen S. Prooks (20): lS7fi.
IJohcrt L. IlincliflTe (4). Myron Cuttim' di).
Clnirles B. Tnltle (22). Elijah M. l.in<lslcy
(2(1). .Tohn W. Miller (.30): 1877. Havid Hard
man (10). Isaac X. Hutibard (14). John M.
rttcr (21): 1878. Ram V. Russell ffil. James
Islierwood (10), .Toseph C. Davis (12).
Middletown township was also organiz-
ed in 1SC9, the connr.issioners taking the
iK^cessary action on May 10. This ]iolit-
ical division had originally been attach-
ed to Petersburg township, but when ^lin-
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
i29
neota was organized in the fall of 18GG
the v>cst half hail been bestowed upon
that precinct while the east half remained,
under the jurisdiction of Petersburg. The
commissioners named the township in ac-
cordance with tlie expressed wish of the
petitioners. The fact that the township
was .situated between the two older or-
ganized townships suggested the name.
The following were granted government
patents to land in Middletown in the
yeans indicated :
ISGC, Isaac Belknap (1); 1S69, William B.
.N'orman (2). William H. Ashley (.3), Simou
Jenson (10), Salmon Dickinson '(19-30), Mar-
tin B. Metcalf (.30): 1870, Ira Camfield (I),
Orhuulo E. Bennett (8), .John M. C. Patterson
(12), William Miller (22), Walter Davies (26),
.Tnlm Brigham (34): 1871. Levi A. Camfield
il); 1872, .Joseph B. Walling (4), Gilbert Ol-
son (10), Nathaniel B. Hall (12), George A.
Busli (ID), Ermead Bordwell (20); 1873, Lewi.s
Parker (1). Edward P. .Skinner (2), George G.
Ashley (2), Rufus D. Earned (4), Thomas
(ioodwin (0). Isaac 8. Barrett (8). Clarion C.
Dunbar (12), .Jolin Cliandler (20), Andrew Jluir
(22), Oliver .J. Rnssell (24), Sylvenus Allen
(30), Thomas T. Brooks (32), William Allen
(.32): 1874. AVilliam P. Lecocq (6), Robert
iluir (22); 1875, William Henderson (4),
James C. Henderson (4), Samuel Metcalf (28).
Horace Chandler (30): 1876, Clark Lindslev
(24), John Davies (26); 1877, Lydia Honghto'n
(18), George Beimas (18), Joshua Kidney
(28); 1880, Walter Withers (2), Robert W.
Kidney (22).
The winter of 1869-70 was an excep-
tionall}- severe one an'd "lingered in the
lap of spring." The scattered settlers
suffered many hardships during the long
winter. Two Jackson county residents
met death in the storms, and otliers had
narrow escapes. The severest blizzards
occurred during the month of March.
Tuesday and Wednesday, the 1.5th and
Ifith of that month, were the stormiest
days of the season. The roads tiecame
blockaded and impassable, many of the
houses were drifted ever with the snow,
the winds liowled and the snow blew over
the bleak prairies. All who could re-
mained in doors ; the merchants of Jackson
closed their shops. This storm was fol-
lowed on March 31 and 22 by another
blizzard of frightful violence.
One of the victims of the storm was Ole
Sime. He had a claim in Enterprise
township, and on Jlonday, March 14,
started from the timber along the river,
wliere he had spent the winter, for a load
of hay on his claim. He secured the hay
and returned with it to a point in Des
iloines township near the home of Clark
Marshall. There he was overcome by the
storm and perished. The oxen were found
dead about forty rod.s front Mr. Sime's
body. The body was found on the ITth by
i\r. L. Bromaghim and Clark Marshall.
Its condition gave evidence that the un-
fortunate man had suffered terribly be-
fore succumbing to the storm.
Another who lost his life that month
was Archie Lee, who lived on Heron lake.
He started from Jackson with a load of
timber on his wav home on tlie 11th in an
intoxicated condition. He arrived within
a few miles of his home, and tlien all
trace of him was lost. The day was
stormy, but not exceptionally so. He is
supposed to have abandoned his load and
tried to reach home witli Iiis team, Init in
the storm and darkness wandered from
his course and was lo.=t. His horses were
found a few days later, but his l)ody was
not found until the 'ioth. He had wan-
dered way to the soutji, and his body was
found lying on a snow drift twelve miles
southwest of Jackson.
Eighteen hundred seventy was a ban-
ner year. During the spring months many
wlio had come the previous year and filed
on claims and then gone away for the
winter came back to take possession of
their land, make improvements and begin
farming. Many new settlers came to
make Jackson county their future homes.
Prairie schooners began to arrive early in
the spring and continued to bring in the
new settlers all summer. Tlie new arriv-
130
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
als generally brought cattle, horses, sheep,
hogs and farming implements with them,
|)ro])are<l to at once Iiegin the cultivation
of the soil. A fair crop of wiicat and
other grain was raised. The weather was
ideal for crops in the spring, but in July
a drouglit reduced what had promised to
be an enormous yield. Corn was an ex-
cellent crop, and wheat was quite up to
the average.
The census of 1870 gave the county a
population of 1,825, an increase of nearly
800 per cent in five years.'
Three new townshijjs were organized
during the year 1870 — Heron Tjake,
Round Lake and Delafield. Heron Lake
township had received its first settlers in
the spring of ISG'i,^ but so great was the
settlement on its fertile lands that the
question of detachment from Belmont
and its organization as a separate town-
ship was taken up in the .spring of 1870.
The matter was postponed until later in
tlie year, and on September 7 the county
commissioners otTicially declared the
township organized. To it were attached
for township purposes the two townships
lying to the west. The name was supplied
by the immense body of water which pene-
trates the township.'' The organization
of the townshi]) was perfected Se])tember
24, when the first town meeting was held
at the liome of D. F. Cleveland. Follow-
ing were the first officers of Heron Lake
township: F. Ebert, chairman; Abram
Johnson and D. F. Cleveland, supervis-
ors; W. H. .Ashley, clerk: William Wiley,
treasurer: C. B. Hubert and Charles ^lal-
ehow, ju-stices of the jieace; Newton F.
'The population of other countle.<< of south-
wo.storn Minnesota In 1870 was as follows:
Blue Karth. 17. .W2; Failhaiilt. !).S<0; Watonwan.
2.4'.'B: Martin. .1.S«7; Cottonwood. 534; Murray.
20ft: Nolle.x. 117: Pipestone. 0: Rock. KK.
'The first settlers were Pharles Malchow. Fred
Ebcrt and Albert Hohcn.stcln. who located on
lake Flaherty.
•On June 21. 1871. the township was enlarged
by the addition of that portion of West Heron
I..akc township which lies east of the lake, and
It Is the largest township in the county.
West and .lolin B. Johnson, constables.
Following is the list of those who early
rei-eived patents to land in Heron l>ake
towiishi]) :
ISTi. Daniel K. Clevelaiul CJIM. David .\.
Clevelan.l (liO): 1S7."), .Miehacl Kislier «i). Al-
bert Iloliensteiii ((>». Vied Kbert (S). Ole N.
Larson (241: 1S7«. \Villiaiii Doll (4). Kreil
Hret/ninnM l4j. Carl Sletler (0). John A.
\isc0Mti (li). Carl Ilolieiistein (K), CImrles
Maleliow (K). .Anders Kirkeliy (li). Clirislo-
plier I!. Kiiliert CM): iS77. William Hos^ow
(4). John llolieii.-tein (t'-). -lolin Leilson (14),
John Kohson (IS), John Olsen (24). Magnus
Johnson (281, Hans I'elerson (2S). (JjiirjiPn
H.-lf;eson (2S). Kdward K. Herfjh (:12I: 1S78,
Carl Hrelzniann (4», .losejdi Manyolil (IS|. Ole
V. Jolinsoii i24): ISSd. Martin tl. Saiiil;«;;er
(2). Peder I. lirakke ,2). .loliii Ilan.-en Nes-
trud (2(1). Mans Hanson (20). Hans Christian-
son (20). I,eif I.eifson (22). Olai Johnson (241,
Matliias H. Uoveland (.S4); 1S81, Peter Aii-
ilerson (12). Thomas .Johnson (.10). Carrie
Tronson (30). Rasmus Larson (32). Neils Kn-
frlebretson (34): 1882. Nils Jaeohsen (14).
Jolianes H. Ilovelaiul (34): 1SS3. Iiif-vold Kn-
erson (10). Christian Lewis (lOK Kiuidt oUon
(12). liernt II. Hovel (22). Lars (tison Aas
(20): 1H84. Kdwin N. (iolpin (.'14): lS8.i. Hans
H. Knudsoii (22). H:ins (Innderseu (20). Trond
O. Tronson (3(i(: ISHG. t>le Simenson il4l.
Hans Hiidmun.seii (2li).
Round Lake township was another
whose settlement was rapid ami which
early jirepared itself for organization. J.
N. Dodge was the first settler, locating
on the north bank of Round Lake in the
sjiring of 18(i0, when there was not an-
other settlir in the whole southwestern
portion of the county. In the spring of
the following year only thr(>e claims were
taken in the township, but a few months
later nearly every quarter was filed upon."
The township was organized in October
and named iiiuind Lake, after the beauti-
ful sheet of water within its boundaries.
The following received ]>atents to land
from the gnvernmeiit in Round T/ake :
1,S73. Henry Hal! (20): 1874. Charh's Seek
(8). William A. Anderson (14). William 11.
Skinner (IS): l,S7.-). Klhridse (J. Lord (22).
Herhert \\ . Kinil.all (31); 1870. -laeoh N.
"■■We understand that nearly all the vacant
claims in ranse 38. town 101 — the .southwest
corner township in this county — have ben tak-
en. The citizens are about pelilioninK for
township orpanization and are also about brldff-
iuE the Little Sioux.'^— Jackson Republic. Oc-
tober 8, 1870.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
131
Dodge (8), Hiram Barrott (8); 1877, William
\V. Bailey (4), Ole H:ilversoii (12), Everett
W Scovil'le (20), Judah Phillips (20), Lewis
Ilensliaw (28). H. J. Phelps (30), William A.
Mosher (30); 1878, Thomas L. Twiford (10),
Osmund T. Handelan (26), .Joseph C. Carter
(.32), Ezra W. Hopkins (34); 1879. Matthew
Riley (2). Samuel Edwards (4); Daniel W.
Lounsbury (32); 1880, Hugh Riley (2). George
Morgan ('(i), Andrew L. Skoog (h). Endre 01-
sen'(12); 1881. Hans Hanson (24), Ole Aush-
am (26); 1882, Thoro .Johnson (24); 1885,
Joseph Clark (20), Knud Olson (28), Samuel
Fenstermaker (33) ; ISSS, Eilert A. Loiien
(35).
When the county's first townships were
organized, township 104, range 36, had
been attached to Belmont, and it was un-
der Behnont's jurisdiction until October
11, ISTO, wlien the county commissioners
organized it into a separate political divi,s-
ion under the name of Pleasant Prairie.
This name had soon to be changed be-
cause it was learned that there was a
tnwnshi|i of the same name in ]\Iartin
county, and law or custom forbade two
townships in the state to bear the same
name. Orwell was then decided upon as
the name, but this had to be changed for
the same reason. On January 4, 1871,
the co)nmissioners named the township
Bergen, bttt s'oon it was learned that Mc-
Leod county had a copywright on that as
the name of a township, and the name
Delaficld was finally designated on March
4, 1871. Fortunately, no previously or-
ganized township in the state had thought
of that name, and the township was at
last permanently named. Titles to land
in Delafield town.ship were granted to
early day settlers as follows:
1870. Henry S. Pomerov (18); 1871, Aaron
G. Chatfield (10), Sylvester Chandler (12),
Anton Miohelson (18): 1872. Edward Savage
(4), Hans Olsen (8); 1873, Abram B. Frisbie
(4). Cliarles Mickels (22), Christian Nelson
(28); 1S74, Willis AV. Cotton (6), James W.
Hayes (6), Charles Miller (22), Gertrude E.
Orwelle (22), Christian Carlstrom (28), Ole
Hanson (30), Hans Christianson (30): 1,875,
Isaac M. Moss (4), Orin Phelps (6), .John
Frederickson (8), Andrew Laird (12), John
Olsen (20), Anders Larsen (24); 1876, .John
Baureson (2), Edward F. Fjelset (2), Olous
Olson (2), James M. Jloore (8), Svendt Vi-
berv (10), Ebenezer B. Millard (10), Hans
0. Elstad (24), Lars B. Sathe (24), .Joseph
Aupperle (26), Norbert Kronier (26), August
Lorenz (32), Stefan Relmelt (32), Ignatz F.
Blumburg (32), John P. Brakke (32); 1877,
Martin Hansen (12), Jens J. Johnson (12),
Peter Christiansen (12). Die Nelson (12),
Gund .Johnson (18), Michael A. Foss (18),
Gustaf Thoniblom (20). Gabriel Olson (20),
Lars Mattriassen (24), Erick Johnson (24),
Knudt Saxwig (24), Annie E. Uekestad (24),
Henry Riese (30). Wilhelm Schwartz (.32),
Ferdinand Hohenstein (32), Benjamin F.
Semmans (32) ; 1878. Ingra Andres Dotter
(10), Hans .Johnson (12), Andrew Swenson
(18), Andrew Anderson (18). Lars Anderson
(20), John P. Esklund (20), Anders C. Quevli
(22); 1879, Ernst W. Pietz (28). Jonathan W.
Rost (34); 1880, Peder Olson (2), Ole Fred-
erickson (8), Anders Olson (8), Hugh M.
Clark (10), Ole -J. Hofland (14), Andrew Lar-
son (14). Andrew .Johnson (14), Adonriram
J. Frost (26), August Lindstrom (28), Ole
Hansen Nestrud (30), Frederick Malchow
(32); 1881, Daniel Gallagher (6); 1882, Hans
Olson (S), Maria Hammerstad (28); 1883,
.John .Svendson (10), Lars Johnson (14),
Sackariah Swanson (26). Charles Mickelson
(28) ; 1885, John J, Swesind (30) ; 1886,
Lars Larson (14); LSSS, Lars Throndson (14).
The following item? from the report of
the county superintendent of schools for
the year 1870 give an idea of the school
conditions at that early date :
Whole number of organized districts, IS.
Number reporting, 14.
Whole number of persons between 5 and
21 years, 455 (233 males. 222 females).
Pupils enrolled in winter schools. 74.
Average dailv attendance winter schools,
39.2.
Number teachers winter schools, 2.
Pupils enrolled in summer schools, 210 (101
males. 109 females).
Average dailv attendance .-ummcr schools,
105.
Number teacliers summer schools, 10.
Whole number school houses in county, 7
(2 frame, 5 log).
Value all school liouses, .$867.
Money received from state funds, $440.38.
Money received from tax, .$964.03.
Money paid for teachers' wages. .$711.68.
Money on hand. $44.99.
The assessed valuation of the county,
as left by the board of equalization, reach-
ed a total of $1-?S..343 in 1870. This was
divided among the precincts' and between
'Heron Lake. Delafield and Rnund Lake town-
ships had not been organized when the assess-
ment was made. The assessT'ent for the first
two was included in that of Belmont and the
Round Lake assessment was included in that
of Minneota.
132
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
liio rp;il mill porpnnal property a« follow."!:
PRECINCT
Real rersuiial
Estate Property
Belmont
$ 4,86o' $28,308
24,701
488
2,579
3,007
3,955
29.066
7,669
6 941
10,141
6,627
Minneota
Middletown
Total
$39,590
$88,752
Tlio piixiiK'ts rclunis I'm- ISlii ^ive a
total of 4,230 acres cultivated. This
acreage was divided into precincts as fol-
lows:* Belmont, 543; Christiania, 74;
Des Moines, 1,705; Enterprise, 77; Heron
Lake, 77; Minneota, 263; Middletown,
395; Petersburg, 52(i : Kound Lake. 3\^\
Wisconsin, 557.
By an act of the icgislature, approved
Zilarch 7, 1870, Jackson county was de-
tached from ^lartin county, to which it
had been attached for judicial purposes
since 1865, and was separately organized
for judicial purposes. Provision was made
for holding court at Jackson, and the
counties of Nobles and Hock were attach-
ed to it for such purposes. These coun-
ties were detached in 1873, when Nobles
county was organized for judicial pur-
jioses.
From tlic time or reorganization early
in 1866 until 1872. Jackson county did
not have a court house. During these
\ear5 the duties of the county officers were
not many, and what business it was nec-
essary to transact was done in the homes
of the various officials. The first agita-
tion for the erection of a court house was
made in 1870. Then the population had
increased to such a size and tlic county
busine.«s had reached a stage where many
people believed the primitive ways of pio-
neer days should be discarded, that Jack-
son county wa.s rich enough" to build a
"AUhniiith rhrlstlnni.-i and Entorprlsr town-
slilp.x h.Td lint yet br-n orRMiilZ'^d I" lt>"0 they
nrp Included In the report, which, .apparently,
was not tabulated until the year following.
court house. Accordingly a bill was pn -
sented to the legislature and became a
law Jfarch 1, 1870, authorizing the com-
Inissiouers of Jackson county to issue
bonds in an amount not to exceed $10,000
for the purpose of building a court house
and jail. But there was a proviso to the
act, to the effect that the people of tlic
county by their ballot.s must ratify the
act before it became effective. The peo-
ple of Jackson, the county seat, were nat-
urally heartily in favor of the projtii.
and Jackson people offered to donate hw:
rent for all county offices until October
I. 1871, should the people ratify the ait '
But in other parts of the county there
was strong opposition to the measure, and
at the election held in .Vpril tlie liomK
were defeated.
The county officers were still obliged \'<
transact the county's business at tlnii
home* or in rented buildings. That tin v
did not .<quander a great deal of the coun-
ty's money for office rent is evidenced by
the fact that on May 11. is:i. the board
of eountv lommissionors unanimously
passed tlie following resolution: ''Ke-
solved that we shall allow no more than
one dollar and (ifty cents to each county
olfii'i'r entitled {•> rrnt for nfficc rent ]ier
mouth."
During its entire early history .laikson
connty an.xionsly awaited the coming of a
railroad, and much (f the setlleiuent of
the early days came as. the result of the
belief that a railroad would soon l)e built
into such a |>romising territory. In 1870
hope ran high. The Soulliern Minnesota,
which was acquiring llie lands under the
generous grant of 1866 as fast as its line
was extended, that year com]iIi'tiMl its road
to Wells, and Jackson county jieople be-
•■'PartWs stand ready to donate to the coun-
ty FRKK RRNT for all county officprs until
October 1. 1S71. In case the voters ratify the
law authorizing the county commissioners to
issue bonds for eountv liuildinBs." — Jack,son Re-
public. April 2, 1870.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
133
lieved that tliG line would be extended
immediately.
But they did not pin their faith to a
single road. During tlie summer rail-
road enthusiasm was rife, owing to the
proposed building of the Des Moines Val-
ley railroad, which was to come from the
south and continue up the Des Moines
river, by way of the village of Jackson.
Mass meetings were lield and promises of
financial support were made should the
promoter.? decide to build. Prospects for
the road coming seemed favorable, and
everybody was happy. But, as is so often
the case with proposed railroads into a
new country, it did not come.
AVhile a railroad did not come in 1870,
in the fall of the next year one was budd-
ed into and beyond the county. Wlien it
became definitely known that the road was
to be constructed there M-as a rush of
landseekers, who soon filed claims to all
the government land in that part of the
county through which tlie I'oad was to
run. In May, 1871, the immigration be-
gan, and from then until fall prairie
schooners weie to be seen every day wend-
ing their way to the choice locations in
the western part of the county. The new-
arrivals invariably brought live stock and
farming implements with them, indicat-
ing tliat they intended to become perma-
nent settlors. The Jackson land office
«as overwhelmed with the work of at-
tending to the filings. The center of at-
traction was along the right of way of ihe
proposed railroad in the northwestern
part of the county, but in all parts of the
county where there was still government
land open to entry the newcomers lo-
cated.'"
""On Thursday last [June 1], from nine
o'clock in the morning- until noon, thirty immi-
grant wagons passed through Jackson, having
with them 156 head of stock of different kinds.
There lias been a continual rush during the
entire week, and probably it will continue
during the montVi. The western part of Jack-
.son county is receiving a good portion of this
immigration."— Jackson Republic. June 3. 1871.
WHiile the Des iloines river country
was by this time a comparatively old set-
tled country, the western part of Jackson
county was still frontier land. Because
there was an enormous immigration in
1871 and the whole order of things chang-
ed, it must not be imagined that the coun-
try was subdued in a day. Most of the
settlers arrived too late to get a crop in
the ground, and very little was raised the
first season. Except that the prairies be-
came dotted with the homes of the settlers,
it was largely the same virgin country it
had always been.
The game lover found himself in a
paradise. Birds abounded. There were
ducks, geese, brant, curlew, pelicans and
prairie chickens. Occasionally glimpses
were caught of some of the big game that
formerly roamed the prairies in vast num-
bers. The summer was fine. The days
and nights were frequently glorified by
tiumder storms of terrific and ineffable
grandeur. The newcomers often sat till
midnight watching the frolic of sheet-
lightning playing over miles of cloud
banks, vividly suggesting the possible glor-
ies of another world. Vegetation grew
rank. The farmer rode along the creek
l)ottoms or on the edges of the lakes and
sloughs through sea.s of wild bluejoint
grass up to the horses' backs.
It was the experience of a lifetime, this
breaking up of virgin lands and building
a community from the gi'ound up, and
many have been the probable and improb-
able stories told of those days. Letters
went back to the old homes in the east,
telling how the residents of Jackson
county planted corn with an ax and
caught fish with a pitchfork, and how the
pianos were set up in the shanty and the
libraries stacked up under the beds.
During the first part of the year, as
the result of the immigration, three town-
ships gained population sufficient to war-
134
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
lant the re.-;itlent.s asking for township
organization. Tliiw were Cluij^tiania Kn-
ti-rprisi' and Weinior.
Christiania to\vnsiii|) hail Ixn^n attached
to Belmont to\vnshi]i <in .Vpiil in. ISO!),
and remained under il^ jiirisdietinn until
Jlarch -1, 1.S71, when the eimnty eonimis-
sioner.s declared it an organized township,
with the township to the east (Kimball)
under its jurisdiction. The aitiou was
taken in accordance with a |ictitii>n nf the
residents dated .lanuarv •<?.■), 1871." Near-
ly all the residents were Norwegians, and
they selected the name of the capital city
of their native country as the name of
their township. Ti'.e government granted
patents to land in Christiania to the fol-
lowing persons in an early day:
180i). Ilinrnm M. Doiiblcilay (-22): 1S72, 01c
.lohnson (IS). Anne J. Rasimisnn (32). I.ars
Rasimison (32): 1873. Ariip Anderson (4).
Leonard Miller (IJ), Christopher .1. Hejerkey
(30): 1874. ln<,'l)or<,' Olson (30): 1875. Nils
Larson (2-12). Karl Olsen (2-4). D. JI. Shel-
don (fl), llulvor llalvorson (8). Ole Anton
(8), Ole Kriekson (IS). .Tolin Olson (2(1|.
John Amunson (30); 1876. Hjorn Olson (4).
Lars Ander.son (10), Anders Tobinson (10).
.James W. Jacobs (12), Infrebor}; Cliristenson
(12), Christen Svend-ion (12), John T.
Mitehell (14), CiUierl S. Hell (14), Ceorge K.
Davidson (14). Ezra 1!. Jliller (22), Ole A.
Wood (22). Frederiik llallason (2(1). Ole 11.
Lokkon (32), Ole Kri.kson (34|: 1H77, John
P, Aasnas (22), Peter Onnderson (24), Siverl
Olsen (24): 1878, Sumner W. Jacobs (14),
.John II. llomnes (22). Arnt Olsen (24). An-
drew Peterson (28), Peler Olsen (.34): 1870,
Limy (ireenlield (0), Jainps (ireenlield ((i).
Thomas Larson (8). Ole Siverson (2(i). Tlionias
■Johnson (2(i) : 1880. Caroline Johnson (2l.llal-
vor Olson (2). Oilbort Hanson l2). Charles H.
Injjalls (ti). Oiindinimd Syverson (8). Simon
.MeCall (10). Uyar Olsen (12). I.ars Krick-nn
(18-28). Menrikii Olsd.iter (201. Hans TcdlefMiii
(20). Petter O. Pedersen (20). Sarah K. I'ar-
ley (22). Svenil O. .Moe (28) , Ole Jaeobson (28).
Annind .Johnson (30). ICnfjebor;; Peterson (.30).
Thomas 11. Chesters.m (30): 1881. ICIlin;; X.
Ellness (20|. John Vrederickson (24). Ole Olson
Solnn.H (30). Peter AmUrson (34): 1883, John
Franson (4), Betsy Swenson (8), Kllinjj Olsen
Mvhrn (10). Frederick Olson (18). Petsy T.
Olson (34): 1884. Mons Anderson (30): 1885,
"The petitioners were Mans Knudson. Ole
Erickson. Arne Anderson. Ole Anton. Halvor
Halversnn. Karl Olson. HJuren Ol.sen. Halvor
Ol.son. Jacob Olson. Gllbnind Hansen. G. Syver-
.son. Ole A. Wold. Halvor Christiansen and Lars
Erickson.
Johan Lei)|) (2), Juhan Tiessen (2), John A.
.Johnson (2), Korneliiia Wiens (14).
Enterprise, like all the northern town-
ships, liad been attached to Belmont in
the early days. It was organized starch
4, 1871, in response to a petition of the
residents dated February 12.'- The orig-
inal petition asked that the township hf>
named Loud Lake, but many olijocted to
the name because there was no hike of
that name or any other name in the town-
slii|). Messrs. Samuel D. Lockwood and
Anders Hoe suggested Enterprise, and aft-
ir .•;ome wrangling that name was decid-
ed upon. The first township board con-
sisted of Jo.«eph Benjamin, Samuel 1).
Lockwood and J. J. Tagley, supervi.sors;
Charles B. Lillie, clerk. Following were
among the township's early settlers who
took claims and received patents from the
government :
1872. John P. Ford (2(1): 1873. Lewis Eckel
(2): 1874. .Jacob Klein (2). (ieorfje Benjamin
(14). Halvor Thompson (201. Thomas Clippi-r
ton (22-20). Ole Johnson (32): IS7.'>. Hiram
L. Benjamin (I0|. Klijah Benjamin 1 10).
Charles B. I^illie (12). .losepji K. Bc-njamin
(22), (Jeorce K. Moore (2ti), Levi Horn (2(i),
Levi H. Chandler (21!). Peler Peterson (28),
Anders Roe (.30). Otto Thompson (.30). Nils
Nelson (32). Ole Olson (.32). Ole Johnson (34);
187(1. Arnt Mo<'n ((i). Samuel I). I/ockwood
(KM. Klizabeth Skrove (30), Cecelia Slim (.30);
Ole Olson Nesvold (32). John J. Birkland (34):
1.SS7. Herman Krii'ksou ((1). Olin .lolinson (14).
.lames Ranilall (22l. Krick Paulsen (2S|. Thore
(llsen Stetner (28); 1878. Nils Olson (01.
Thomas Olson (ti(. .-Vndrew Jolinsun (30).
.Iidian A. Krof;stad (30) : 187)1. Jidui Kn;;an
((■>). (iultorm Inirebrifitson (24), .lames Taylor
(2(i), Martlia Taylor (2(1), Peler (iunderson
(28): 1880, Bersvenil Thoreson (IS), ,lohn
Simpson (22), Hans Kolfson (30), John C,
Aiilhen (.32): 1881. L.irs N. Ilajien (4): 1882.
Kli N". Hafien (4): 18S3, Ciiness LaRue (8), K.
L. Bripwiiell (24): ISS.'i, (JiiDcrins Tollefsoii
(IS), (Juiider Andei—.n (18). .Inlin Taj^ley
(30).
Early in JFay residents of township lOK
range 37, petitioned the hoard of county
"The signers to the petition were S. D. Lock-
wood. S.imuel .\. i.ni-kwood. Kllza Renjamln.
Joseph K. Renjnmln, ritorRe nenjnmln. CliarloB
n. Lillie. Adolpli Mailer. Lewis Kek.l. Jiieob
Kh'ln. Hiram Renjamln, Marlln Thompson,
Hnlver Thompson. Thomas Olsnn. Toris Skrove.
Otlo Thomson. Erick I'aul.scn. Peter Paulsen. J.
J. Tanley. Stephen liaujamin. William .Mon-
tague and Richard Shanon.
A PIONEER'S HOME
Log Cabin Erected by John Johnson Egge in 1868 and Still Occupied by Him and His
Wife. It is the Oldest Building in Christiania Township.
THE BARN
Also Erected by Mr. Egge in 1808. It is a Typical Building of Pioneer Days.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
135
commissioners for township organization
under the name of Eden, and the board
toolv tiie required action on May 11. The
organization of Eden towaship was per-
fected on 5Iay 27, when the following
were selected as the first precinct officers:
('liarles Winzer, chairman; William Peter
and Peter Johnson, supervisors; L. 0.
Beck, clerk ; Andrew Peter.sou, assessor ;
Christian Knudson, treasurer; Henry
Knudsou and A'els Johnson, justices of
the peace; Siborn Rugland and Otto
Johnson, constables. It was soon learned
tliat a townsliip in Brown county boasted
I he name of Eden, and the citizens peti-
tioned that the name be changed to Wei-
iner, which was done by the commission-
ers October 20, ISTl. Cliarles Winzer,
the township's first settler, selected the
name in honor of his home town in Ger-
many — iSaxe-Weimar. On the petition
asking that this name be l)estowed the
spelling of the name was Weimar (which
is correct), but through a mistake the of-
ficial spelling of tlie name of the town-
sliip was Weimer. Following are the
names of the early settlers of Weimer
townshi]) who received patents to land
and the dates the titles were secured :
1873, Stener Bilstad (4), Henry Knudson
(10). Anders Xilson (20); 1874. .John Finney
(4), Thomas (iiirvin (IS), Theodore B. Caster-
line (.30); 1875. .JonatJian Myers (2), Charles
Krause (8). Brede Evenson (IS), Etliermer V.
Foster (28); 187fi. Emma M. Passmore (2),
■John Heern (C), Jergen Schovlen (6), Chancy
W. (.{reenman (14), James A. iloSehooler (18),
Cliristoplier Dohereiner (26), Johannes Ander-
son Torp (30). William McDonald (.32); 1877,
.Tames C. Vonglit (4), Christian Knndson (12);
1878, Ranson A. Nichols (ti). Sigar Larson
(10), Ann J. Buckeye (18),' .Jens A. Moe (22),
Lemik Larson (30), John T. Smith (30), Lewis
Tagland (30), fieorge Cope (32); 1870, .Johan
■ lust ((i), August Peter (14), Otto Hanson (20),
Peter Johnson (20) ; 1880. Florian Nimerfroh
((>). Louis Olson Beck (10), Albert Nichols
(10), Tollef 0. Beck (10), Anders Peterson
(22), .John Olson (24), Johan Fielder (24),
Charles Winzer (26); 1881, il A. Berg (4),
Franz Jarmar (8), George Erbes (24). George
H. Freemire (32); 1882. Monroe Mcl^aird (2),
Ole 0. Selves (24); 18S3. Martin Blixseth (4),
Hoovel Iverson (8), Ole 0. Homme (18); 188.1,
Franz Nimmereuichter (8), Su.sanna Gjerraun-
son (12), Joseph B. Price (12). Adelia A. Pratt
(14), Christian Borgei'son (22), Mary O. Rog-
nas (22), Zebina Judd (32); 1886, .Josef War-
schotka (S), Lewis C. Wood (32); 1888, George
Albert Winzer (22).
The survey for the line of the Sioux
City & St. Paul railroad tlirough Jackson
county was made early in April, 1871,
grading was commenced during the sum-
mer and track laying was begun in Sep-
tember and completed to Worthington in
October. It had been the intention of the
company to begin the operation of trains
at once, but the heavy snows kept the line
covered all winter, and it was not nntil
April, 1872, that regular train service
was established. The road was opened to
Sioux City in the fall of 1872." As a
result of the building of the county's first
railroad the village of Heron Lake was
"This line of railroad— now the Chicago, St
Paul. Minneapolis & Omaha— is one of the old-
est in the state of Minnesota. Its construction
was begun in 1S65 by the Minnesota Valley
Railroad company, which was organized under
an act of the legislature approved March 4
1S64. Ten .sections of land per mile of road was
granted the company as a bonus. Its author-
ized capital was $500,000, of which $473,000 was
at once subscribed and paid in. The first board
of directors and principal stockholders were H.
H. Sibley. Russell Blakelev. R. H. Hawthorne
George Culver, W. F. Davidson. E. F. Drake, h!
M. Rice, J. L. Merriam, Horace Thompson.
Frankhn Steele, J. E. Thompson. J. C. Burbank,
T. A. Harrison, John Farrington, W. D Wash-
burn and C. H. Bigelow.
In 1S65 the road was located and construc-
tion comn-enced between Mendota and Shako-
pee. That part of the road was opened for
traffic November 16. 1865. In 1S66 the line was
completed to Belle Plaine. in 1S69 to Lake
Crystal, and in 1870 to St. James.
At the time of the organization of the Min-
nesota Valley Railroad company, and at the
instance of its inco-porators. there was or-
ganized the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad
company, to build a railroad from Sioux City
to the south line of Minnesota. On April 7,
1S69, the name of the Minnesota Valley Rail-
road company was .-hanged to St. Paul & Sioux
City Railroad company, organized with a capi-
tal stock of $2,400,000. In 1S71 a contract was
made between these two companits by the
terms of which the Sioux City & St. Paul" com-
pany completed the line of road from St. James
to LeMars. Iowa, where connection was made
with the Iowa Falls & Sioux City railroad for
Sioux City. For several years the line was
operated by the two companies — from St. Paul
to St. James by '.he St. Paul & Sioux City
Railroad company, and from St. James to
Sioux City by the Sioux City & St. Paul Rail-
road company — both companies controlled by
the same interests. May 25, 1880, a reorgani-
zation was brought about and the line, to-
gether with others, became known as the Chi-
cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. In De-
cember. 1882. the line became a part of the
Northwestern system.
136
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
founded in the fall of 1871 and the north-
west i);irt (if tiie i<uinty was rapidly set-
tled and developed.
Etforts were made to have a branih line
of the new road built into eastern Jackson
county. On Felinuuy li, 1871, a mass
meeting was held at Jackson to discuss
the advisability of issuing bonds for the
purpose of aiding in the construction of
a 1) ranch line from Bingham Lake or some
point in the vicinity to Jackson. Almost
a solid alVirnuuive vote was given. In
May E. F. Drake, president of the Sioux
City & St. Paul Railroad company, went
to Jackson and submitted a delinite prop-
osition. He- gave the choice of two lines
—one from Bingham Lake, the other
down the west side of the Des Moines riv-
er—and stated that his company was
ready to commence building such a line
when a bonus of $80,000 was raised. The
n\oney was not raised and the road was
not built."
The year 1871 was a prosperous one,
due to the immense immigration and the
bountiful harvest. 'J'hc wheat croii liad
never been better, oats ami barley were
an extra crop, and corn was far ahead of
that of any previous year. With the com-
ing of the railroad came markets for the
grain, and all the claim holders turned
their attention to farming. In the fall a
few farmers were damaged to some extent
by prairie fires. The state legislature ap-
propriated money for the relief of the
sufferers from hail and fire in the frontier
counties, and in January, 1S72, Jackson
county ofl:icials received $100 of this
money, which was divided among those
who had sustained loss. According to the
assessors' figures for 1871 there were 19.-
057 acres of land subject to taxation. The
"■'Drake olTcrcd to furnish vis a rond for
JSO.OOO. but wo didn't hnve quite- that amount
lylnK around Ioosp. so wo didn't got the road."
.1-M. A. Strcne. ISSO.
total assessed valuation of the county was
$111,543.
From the report of the superintendent
of schools it is learned that in 1.S71 tiiore
were nineteen organized districts, of which
thirteen reported. There were 4Ci5 chil-
dren of school age in the county, and there
were enrolled in the summer schools 231
pupils, while 15() were enrolled 'in the
winter schools. Six teachers were em-
ployed to conduct the winter schools and
eleven the summer schools. In the coun-
ty there were three frame school houses,
one of stone and four of logs. The value
of all the school buildings was $1,589.
The unwise legislation which withdrew
from homestead entry nearly one-half of
.Tackson county's lands began to have its
eft'ect in 1872. The bulk of the govern-
ment lands had been taken before, and
now homeseekers passed through Jackson
county on their way farther west, where-
as numy would have stopped could Ihey
have secured free lands. To Nobles coun-
ty thousands came in 1S7'2 as the result of
(he operations of the National Colony
iiim])any, which had secured thousands of
acres of the railroad lands nn<l was sell-
ing them at low prices.
Hespite the lack of immigration, rapid
strides forward were made. Those who
had come in 1871 broke out their land,
erected buildings, and added to the pros-
perity of the county. The number of acres
of taxable land in 1872 was 44.014. The
assessed valuation reached $202.845 —
nearly twice the assessment of 1871.
I'^our new towhships were organi-/.ed
during the year, namely: Hunter, Kim-
ball, Alba and IjaCrosse.
Hunter town.ehip, which since March 13,
18(;(i, had been attached to Des Aloines
township, was created February 13. 1872,
and to it were attached for townshi|i ])ur-
|)oses the present townships of Rost and
Rwington. The precinct was named in
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
137
honor of J. W. Hunter, a pioneer mer-
chant of Jackson and county treasurer at
the time the township was created. Among
the early .settlers of Hunter were the fol-
Inwino-, who received patents to land in
the ycai's mentioned :
1870. jr. Ware (28). .Tolin .S. Ware (28); 1S71.
Daniel 0. Reed (26), Ira G. Walden (30): 1872,
.Solon C. Tliayer (32). Charles H. Stewart (2(1);
1873, George A. Tnia.\ (4), Wilbur S. Kimball
(18). Milton B. Parker (22), Roliert H. l!uiker
(22). ilarfiaret Topping (24), Edward Orr (24).
Enoch S. Wave (20): 1874, Otis B. Kliodes
(2-14). Andrew Simmons (10). Ale.xander
Fiddes (18). Thaddeus Rucker (20), William
(ireer (.34); 187.5, .Tames W. Forrest (4),. Hart-
son H. Bryant (8); 1870, .Tolin Gallaglier. ".Jr.,
(6), Daniel Harrington (14), Francis Bran-
nick (14), .Tames E. McMillen (20); 1,S77.
.lames H. Rol)iiison (10), Levi A. Larned (12),
S. D. .'^umner (34); 1878. .Tohn (iallagher (6).
Isaac a. Reed (30); 1870. .Martin I^ilver (2),
.■\nios D. Palmer (30); 18S0, ^ Lansing W.
Crowl (2). Alfred Bedient (8): 1881, William
V. King (2(i) ; 1883. Lcniis .T. Lecocq (12| ; 188.i,
Isaac S. Barrett (12). Helge K. Rue (30).
The northea.st corner township was
created on the same day as was Hunter,
it heiug detached from Belmont and made
a separate political division under the
n^me of Eosendahl. The organization was
[lerfected in March. The name was chang-
ed to Kimball by action of the board of
county commissioners on ]i[arch 33. 1872,
it being named in honor of W. S. Kim-
hall, the pioneer hardware merchant of
•laekson. Land patents were i.ssued to
Kimball settlers m an early day as fol-
lows :
1873, Charles K;ressler (14); 1874, George R.
Hall (4), .Tohn W. Garner (12). George I^ellogg
(26); 1875, Edgar Stacey (2). .Tohn S. Porter
(4). .John Middlebrook (6); 1876. Hiram S.
Schlott (2): .Joseph DeJ.ong (2), Christian
Sorgerson (6). William C. Xourse (10), George
S. Kendall (12). Carl .J. Erickson (14); 1877.
Charles W. Phelps (2). Sarah .J. .Alitchell (0),
■Fames E. Mitchell (6), Ole (31.son (8), Charles
Kellogg (10), Carl C. Frovorp (14). Antoin
Storkerson (14), C. A. Rakkestad (14). .John
Peterson (18), Peter (iunderson (18), Robert
H. Wade (24), Christian Erickson (28). Nicolas
S. .Julin (28), Erick Erickson (28), Just H.
Erickson (32); 1878. .Joseph Hastings (8), Ole
■Johnson (18), .John J. .SHnd (18). Elias S.
■Tulin (32). Gustave Kossach (.34); 1879. Carrie
Peterson (IS), Otto Erickson (32); 1880, .John
Peterson (8). Ole Bjornsen (20), Edward
8
Schoewe (26) ; 1881, Carl Gustav Erickson
(12); 1882, Peter Thompson (18), Ellef Ben-
son (20).
Town.ship 103, range 38, was authoriz-
ed to begin township government Septem-
ber ■'!, 1873, the eonnnissioners naming
the township Baldwin. The name was
changed to Alba a few days afterward,
and the first town meeting was held Sat-
urday, September 21, at the home of the
first settler, Ole Thompson. Following
were the names of the first officers : Sam-
LU'I I'mphrey. chairman; William Blais-
dell and (Jle Thompson, supervisors; Tor-
ge Omberson, treasurer; Dr. J. F. Force,
assessor; George Umphrey and Dr. J. F.
Force, justices of the peace; Ole Thomp-
son and Lawrence Eeadle, constables. The
following were early day settlers of Alba
township who received title to lands from
the government :
1872, William Blaisdell (30l ; 1873, Ole
Knudson (2), .James W. Nelson (4). Henry
Humplirey (10), Cornelius .Johnson (20),
Amanda J. ilerrian (30); 1874, .John E. Lyons
(2), (ieorge Kline (10). Ole E. Thompson (20).
■John A. Olsen (22); 1875. William N. Strong
(4). James T. Clark (8). F:zekiel C. 15ickford
(12), Abram Freer (24), Calvin R. Gray (30),
Burns Wiltse (32) ; 1876. .James M. AIcNair
(4), James L. Howie (6), Jacob F. Force (8),
Samuel Umphrey (18). John Wilson (22),
Sila3 G. Smith (28); 1877, Ole Olson Rognas
(2), Edward Rogers (14). Henry Umphrev
(18), .Johannes D. F'reer (24); 1878, Kjale Her-
mansen (2). Joseph Readle (6). Ijawrence
Readie (8), Clark A. Wood (10). .John Benson
(14), Hallick Seversoii (20). Obed Omberson
(22), Newton Freer (24). Peter F. McNair
(26), Armond R. Bechand (28), Julia Severson
(32); 1879, Gudman .Johnson (12), Hellick
Anderson (18), Emma Anderson (20), Hans
Charleston (24), Terge Armson (28); 1880,
(Jeorge Umphrey (18); 1881, Peter Vogt (8),
John W. Benson (14), Obed Ormson (22), Anna
M. Rindy (32); 1882. Joseph W. Lidick (10),
Henry Schumacher (12). Donald Montgomerv
(32). Duncan McNab (32); 1883. Anna Frit-
scber (6); 1884, Walter L. Freer (24); 1885.
John Olson (14); 1887. Sever Severson (32):
1888, Samuel J^ord (2), .Johann Fritscher (6),
.John I'eterson (12), .John Besser (14).
LaCxosse township wa.s also organized
in September, 1872. _ In the early days
a party of claim seekers, among whom was
Benjamin J. Svennes, moved from La-
Crosse, Wisconsin, to tlie northwest cor-
136
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
ner township of Jackson county and bf-
ciune pennanent settk-rs. Wliun the town-
ship was organized tlic name of the Wis-
consin town from whicli manv of the set-
tlers liad come was bestowed upon the new
township. Following are the names of
many of the early settlers of LaCrosse
townsliip and the dates they received land
])atents from the jjovernment. with the
nu!Hl)er of the sectinns iipnn which thoy
had their claims:
1S7I, .Jolian Mai.xiu'r (201: IS73, .lames \V".
Maokiiison (14), .James IIo))kins (28). .Jacol)
Drill (.-iO). .lolin H. Allen Cii) : 1S74. .lul (ill-
hcrtsoii (2(>). Oliver Paiip (;!2). Mieliael Trern-
iiier (34). Eber S. OsImmii CU). Hen C. San-
born (34); l.ST.i. .Tolin O'N'eil (10|. Samuel 1!.
Kstes (22): 1870. .Tolni .Tdlinson (8). Peter
Peterson (10). .Tolin Ilalfonl (10). .lolin Lin-
liard (12). Cliristoplier Kiinsmiin (141. Cliris-
tian Ander.^ion (ISl; 1877. Karine Wikstrum
(10). Ferdinand Powlitsdiek (12): 1878, Don
J. Handy (4). Daniel K. Kisli (0), .lule .1. Svon-
nes (10), Ferdinand llaliermnn (12). l?en J.
Svenncs (24). Albert (iilbertson (2()), Ole A.
Fauskee (guardian) (20): 1870. Orman W.
Fish (0). Xils Dahl (8). John Behrenfeld (.30).
Franz Piesoliel (32): 1880. Edward .1. Thew
(0). Franz Hejier (12)..lolian (iehr ( 12). .Joseph
Servus (14). .Jolian Powlitsehek (14). Frank
Ximerfroh (28): 1881. .Joseph Wenkler (2).
.John MeCall (8), Franz Prosser (8), Anton
llffier (12). Franz llaberman (12). .Joseph
S<'hreiber (20). .John P. Peterson (20). Fer-
dinand llaberman l30): 1882. .lolinn Ileger
(2). Franz Zellner (8), .John Rostomily (10).
Ferdinand llaberman (20), .John llaberman
(20). Henry A. Parker (32): 1883. Franz Lie-
pold (2). .Joseph .Jann (4). Katarina Haberman
(18), Ipnatz Haberman (18), Godfred Haber-
man (18). .lolian Maixner (20). Ole (i. SJalaas
(24). Ole Fodness (20). Peter Hohbanm (20).
Henjamin JJepold (28). Joseph IlalnMinan (28).
Franz Pelzl (28), Josef I'elzl (34), Alois
I'Vied (2), Johan .Jones (0). Alois Sontnj; (8);
188.). Ij-naz Zellner (8). Johan Hedrieh (18),
Franz Winkler (22). Cliristine NeNon (241:
188(1. Johan Habernum (20). Johan Harlos (28).
Edward Prosser (28). John F. IJehrenfeld (30|:
1888, Ferdinand Powlitsehek (2). Mary Sulli-
van (4). Frank IVlzl (10). A|..ilina Winkler
(IS), Victor 0. Mott (22).
The ever-dreaded winter stornus claim-
ed the victims early in tST2. In the
southeastern part of Dclafield town.<hip C.
D. Carlestrom and his son, Clarice, met
death in a blizzard on .Tanuary lO wliile
hatding wood. The body of JFr. Carle-
strom was found throe davs later. The
boy's body was not found until the next
spring.
On Tuesday, Kchiuary i;{, 18?2. tiic
county experienced the most severe bliz-
zard since the terrible storm nf Manli,
1870. Tlie storm raged from four o\liick
on Monday afternoon until midnight
Tuesday. On Monday the weather was
warm and fine. In the afternoon a warm
snow fell until four o'clock. Then the
wind instantaneously whippet! around to
the northwest and came in freezing gusts,
filling the air with blinding snow and
making it impossible to sec more than a
few yards. The change was so sudden
that many were overtaken and lost in the
lilinding storm. Three human lives were
.sacrificed to the fury of the stcirin. and
many were the narrow escapes.
One of the unfortunate men was Mr.
Garner, of Enterprise township, who was
oveitaken by the storm while on his way
home from Cedar lake with a load of
wood, lie was unable to find his house,
although he passed within a hundred rods,
of it. At that point l;c unlonded his wood
and began traveling with tiic .sIodo. His
dead body was found on tiic .lackson-Win-
neljago City stage road. Mr. tiarucr's
team was found in the vicinity of Twin
lakes, one of the animals frozen to dc;ith.
Terrible sulfering must have precciled
the deaths of John Johnson Buckeye and
(^le Hognaes, of Heron Lake. They were
on the way home from their timber lot
when struck by the storm, within two
miles of Heron Lake station. Unyoking
their oxen, the men started out on foot
for the nearest house, traveling with the
storm. The tracks of the unfortunate
men found by a searching jiarty Wednes-
day di.sclosed the fact that they had
passed house after house, sometimes going
within four rods of a l)ou?e. but tinal)le to
fee it through the wind-driven snow. The
liodv of Mr. Eognaes was found near Boot
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
139
lake, a distance of sixteen miles from tlie
point where the men started. The ap-
]iearance of the snow showed that Mr.
Bnckcye liad carried his companion some
distance alter the hitter had given np. Mr.
Buckeye pushed on v>ith the wind. After
traveling a long distance, he Ijecame so
hadly frozen that he was unable to walk;
then he crawled for a considerable dis-
tance farther. His body was found in a
thicket near the Des Moines river at the
foot of a hill, down which he had slid.
Unable to rise, he perished there. This
was at a point about four miles north-
west of Jackson and twenty-four miles
from tlie place where he began his wan-
derings. The body was found on Friday.
Several other people were known to
have been caught in the storm. On AVed-
nesday morning, which dawned bright and
clear, searching parties were sent out to
loiik for them. Tlie dri\er of the Win-
nebago City stage was one of these, Init
he had been able to secure shelter for him-
self and team. The storn^ resulted in
many deaths in other parts of southwest-
ern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa.
The progress nuide in Jackson county
during 18T2 is illustrated by the increase
in school facilities and school attendance.
According to the county .superintendent's
report for the year, there were twenty-six
organized districts, of which twenty-one
made report. There were 610 children of
school age. Of these 82 were enrolled in
winter schools and 323 in summer schools.
Four teachers were employed during the
winter and fourteen during the summer.
There were six frame and five log school
houses, the total value of which wa.s
$1,864.
A question of vital importance, relating
(o the diminution of the county's area,
was decided at the general election in No-
vember, 1873. The legislature, on Feb-
ruary 29, passed a bill providing that the
townships of La Crosse, Alba. Ewington
and Kouud Ijake should be detached from
Jackson county and given to Nobles coun-
ty. At the same time another bill was
passed which provided that the four west-
ern townships of Nobles county should be
given to Eock county." The proposition
was to enlarge Kock county at the expense
of Jackson county. The act was not to be
put in force until both Jackson and No-
bles county should ratify it by ballot.
The election on the question was almost a
farce. Nobles county decided in favor of
the proposition by a vote of 131 to 101),
but Jackson county naturally voted no.
Only thirty-six voters in Jackson county
registered in favor of the surrender of
territory, and all except one of these re-
sided in Alba and Iiouiid Lake town.ships
— townships which were closer to Nobles
county villages than they were to those
of Jackson county. The result bv town-
sliips was as follows:
TOWNSHIPS
be
c
■> 00
c ca
be
<
Alba
14
1
2i"
2
49
51
51
103
40
39
25
17
17
27
16
36
66
36
Belmont
Christiania
Delafield
Des Moines
Enterprise
Heron Lake
Hunter
Kimball
La Crosse
Middletown
Minneota
Petersburg
Round Lake
Weimer
Wisconsin
Total
36
575
Jackson county's first court house was
built in 1872. After the defeat of the
court house bonds in 1870 the matter was
140
HISTOHY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
allowed to rest two years. Then, on Feb-
ruary 12, 1872, citizens of Jackson met
at the office of iViulcrson & Tiffany to
take steps to secure a county building. A
petition was drawn u|> and forwarded to
St. Paul a.-;kin<; the legislature to enact
another law allowing tlie coniini.^sioners to
issue bonds for this ]nir])osi'. In an in-
foniial manner 't was agreed that Jack.'Jon
jieoplc sliould (Innate ]iart of the necessary
funds. In accordamr witli tlie expressed
wisiies of the ])eople who signed the peti-
tion, an act was jia.sscd and approved Feb-
ruary 27, 1872. It authorized the coni-
niissioners to issue Ijonds not to exceed
$(>,00(), but, again, tiio act to become op-
erative must be ratified by the electors.
A special election for this jiurpose was
held March 12, when the act was ajiprov-
ed by a vote of 22G to 1.5(i. Owing to se-
vere weather, a light vote was polled, and
no elections were held in the lownshijis
of Weimer, LaCrosse and Ko.sendahl
(KiiMliall). The norlii part of the county
was almost solidly against the bonds, as
the vote shows:
TOWNSHIPS
For
Bonds
ARainst
Bonds
Belmont
Christiania
Delafiekl
Dcs Moines
20
"98
26
■"iB
20
8
25
"23
28
45
;!()
.'>
2
21
7
2
7
2
Enterprise
HiTim Lake
Hunter
Middletown
Minneota
Pe tersbu rg
Round Lake
Wisconsin
Total
226
l.-Sfi
To assist in the erwtion of the build-
ing the people of Jackson liound them-
selves to the county by promissory note to
pay the sum of $1,480, providing the
court house siiould be erected during the
year 1ST2.''' All of this amount was not
paid into the county treasury, however,
and suit was brought to collect sonic of
the contributions. A statement of tiie
standing of these accounts made Decem-
ber 2(i, 1878, shows the standing at that
late day: Amount paid, $SG.") ; partly
paid and considered collectable, $liiO; in
suit $85; uncollectable, $370.
The $(),()()0 bonds were quicklv disposed
of, and on June 10 the contract for the
erection of the building was let to T. L.
Twilfni-d, of Spirit Lake, on a casli bid
of $.'),800."' The building was rusiied to
completion and was accepted from the
contractor Decend)er 28. Faulty construc-
tion was alleged, and tliere was consider-
alile tiouble ovei' the matter before a final
settlement was made. For thirty-four
years this building erected in 1872 served
as the coimty court house, and was dis-
lilaeed l>y the handsome edifice recently
dedicated. ■■
'^Tliii.sc who so liound themselve.s and tlu-
amount e."ich aBrftd tn oonliihutc wi-n- as fol-
lows: .\n(Iirs()n * 'I'Iffanv. $liiO; W. .\shlev. JISO;
\V. S. Kimhall. JlOO: ChambiTUn * .\shlo.v (cash).
J.'iii: ('h;niilHilin iSi .\shlov (hluek 25. Jarksonp.
J4ii(i; .M. .\. StroriK. J25: Jamis \V. Hinit.-r. $50:
J. \V. Cowing, $50; Kdw. P. Sklniu-r, $6(1; I. .-v.
Morcaiix. $25: R. M. Wmxlwaiil. $25; Simeon
.\ver.v. $25; Michael MilUr. Jld; .\. K. Wood.
$10; C. Baldwin (In workl. $25; II. Miner. $25:
W. C. Garratt, $25; H. .M. .Vverv. $2:i; A. H.
Strong. $25; John H. Grant. $25; H. S. Ballev,
$150; H. H. Johnson. $25; S. M. Clark. $25:
.Mexander KIdde.s. $25: J. K. Thomas. $25; S. K.
Kord (in work). $5; Menno Kby, $5.
'■lithiT liids sulimltlod were; \V. S. Kimball,
cash, $(;.00O. bonds, $6,500; H. S. Bullcy, cash,
$ti.500, bonds, $7,000; Farmer & Hallett. cash.
$6,200.
''.Vniom? the judpes who h<*KI co\irt In this
old liiilldlni; w.-re Franklin II. Walte. Daniel
.\. Dickinson, afterwards for m.-iny >'ears a jus-
tice of the supreme court; J. 1.. M<'Donald.
Charles M. Start, the present chief justice nr
Minnesota; M. J. Severance. A. D. Perkins. P.
H. Brown. I.orin Cray and James H. Quinii.
.\monB the eminent law.vers who practiced at
Its bar were T. J. Knox, who tried the first .and
Inst lawsuits in the 1)Uitdin>;: John It. Sanlxirn.
W. n. Sanborn. Yomig \- l.itjhtner. W. B. Douk-
las. Savage * Piirdy. J. W. l.osey. H. II. Fic^ld.
James .\. Tawne\-. M. J. Severance. John l.lnd.
II. F. Webber. John .\. I.ovcly. I.orin Cray, An-
drew C. Dunn and Daniel Rohrer.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
MTOn, LEWOX AN*
TltOEN FOU«DATia«jg,
-
■ V
1
fe'^.'l:.a._-_.._..L'
:«_
iirlR'ufll^Aii^i'^'''' "^ vai.i.kV • MiN H: OTAdjin n;i»i:iJ^6N »*'Hi;Ki{si!ri; (. j^
' <"-yitr\<-'
JACKSON COUNTY IN 1S74
Reproduced from an Old i'riiit.
A SOD SHANIV
In Buildings Such as These Many of Jackson County's Pioneers Had Their Homes.
CHAPTER XI.
THE GEASSilOPPEE SCOURGE— 1873-1877.
NOW come the dark days of Jack-
son comity history — the fjrass-
hopper days. For several years,
beginuiug with 1873, grasslioppers, or
Eocky Mountain locusts, swept down upon
the country in countless millions, devour-
ing the cultivated crops and bringing dis-
aster to nearly every citizen. The people
of Jackson county, in common with those
of all southwestern Minnesota, suffered
as few pioneer settlers in any country ever
suffered. Adversity followed adversity.
The frowns of fortune overwhelmed those
who had come with such high hopes in
the preceding years and cast them into
the slough of despond. The picture can-
not be painted too dark.
The country became bankrupt. Immi-
gration ceased : migration began. All
who could mortgaged their property and
many left the county. Some got into
such straighted circumstances that they
were actually without the means to pay
their railway fare out of the country. It
was impossible to make a living from the
farm, and many sought work during the
summer seasons in their old homes in the
east; otheT'S attempted to earn a livelihood
by trapping. In time land became value-
less ; it could not be sold or mortgaged.^
^Arthur M'. Dunn, a former Jackson county
boy. now the famous Washington correspond-
ent, has added his testimony to the conditions.
After the first or second year eastern capi-
talists refused to consider loans in the
grasshopper infested country.
Before taking np the story of the first
grasshopper invasion, let us consider a
few other events that occurred during
18^3, and look at tlie country as it was
before the devastation came.
The population hr.d increased to per-
haps between 3.000 and 4,000 people, and
everv part of the county was settled. All
except four townships were organized. A
line of railroad was operated through the
county, and many stage lines carried "mail
and passengers to and from all the neigh-
boring communities.- Two villages, Jack-
son and Heron Lake, were enjoying pros-
perous times and a healthy growth as a
result of the immigration and the develop-
ment of their tra(ie territories. The fer-
He has written: "Many a time have I seen
a farmer who came to Jaclison full of hope, who
had taken a homestead, acquired title and
seemed ready to enjoy prosperity, sell as fine
a hundred and sixty acres of land as the sun
eyer shown upon for a broken down team and
wagon and enough money to get back beyona
the hoppers."
=In August. 1873. seven stage lines were oper-
•Tted from the village of Jacksor,. as follows;
Windom (daily). B. "VV. Ashley, contractor; St.
James (twice a week). William Barnes, con-
tractor; Winnebago City (three times a week).
Tom George, contractor: Blue Earth City (three
times a week). O. S. Farr, contractor; Esther-
ville (weekly). Welch .Ashley, contractor; Spen-
cer (daily;). I>. E. Holcomb. contractor; Worth-
ington (twice a week). William Greer, contrac-
tor. All of these linjs had been in operation
a year or two before this date and some of
them longer.
141
142
IIJSTOUY OF.IACKSU.N C UUNTV
tility and value of tlic J'ariniiig' lamls hatl
been proven by excellent erops. The pros-
pects seemed good im- .lackson county
cnntinuinir it-; onwarii march to prosper-
ity.
Ewiugton township was organized in
the spring of the year. A ])etition was
cireulatetl in ilarcii, anil on the "^'^th of
that month the board of county cnnunis-
sioner.s jjassed a resolution declaring the
township organized under the name of
Ewington, in honor of the Ewing family,
the township's first settlers.^ The first
town meeting was held at the homo of
Nancy Ewing on April l-"). when the
township's first officers were chosen. They
wore as follows: G. E. Perry, chairman;
E. K. Dunn and Orsenms Farnlian), su-
pervisors ; T. ('. Ewing, clerk and treas-
urer; Frank Grim, assessor; W. F. Ew-
ing, justice of the ])eace ; Thomas Fitzger-
ald, constable. Early day land jiatents
were granted to the following in lOwing-
ton township :
1872. Walter S. Brndford (14), Alsoii T..
Bailov (24): IST."!, JIntl;ew Snivth (6). Clinrles
\V. Ciiilis (14). Kiuly J. Stiles (28): 1874,
Kranl<lin fJriiii (2), Ku(li>lpli Boekor (12),
.Iiimcs II. Wped (24). Cornelius .Toliiisoii (2(>l;
1875,' Robert (i. Deatlie (12); lS7(i. Or.semus
Fnrnl'am (2), fleorec Periv (li); 1877. Tliiiniiis
E. Filz<;eral(l (4). Tliom.is'c. Ewiiif: (.SO), Wil-
liam I'. Kwin^' (.S2): 1878. James W. .Matliews
(10), Aa^e ClnistiaiisDi! (181. .Inim A. SpalTonl
(20), Fred A. Barton CM): 187il. Oiristian
Olseii (8), Hans Olsen (10). William N. Davios
(22). Susan K. Barton (2S|: 1880. Soren Iver-
.son (10). Arllinr \. .Toiilan CiO). W-irr W'liip
key (34): 1881. .Tolin McCall (8): 1882. Hans
Soi-cnson (8): 1883. Charles }'. Handall (20).
Andrew Oqrrie (.30), .lames XA'alker (32l: 18.^4.
James H. Ewing (22); 188(1. ll«Tnr.ui Pinz (4i.
Willi the possible e\cc])lion of the win-
ter of 1856-57. thai of 18:2-73, was the
most severe in tli(> history of Jack.son
'"Along In Mareh Fllmoro EwhiK came to our
house In town with a petition to have the toviii-
ship organized, naming U after the family, who
were the first settlers — and the honor was not
misplaced, for they were a very worthy f.imllv.
Intelligent, neighborly, hospltnhli'. and we h:i\-c
always l)een sorry they could not hiivi- ahldid
wheri' their early residence created so favorabh'
an impression and their imfortunate denai-tiire
kindled .so many regrets." — J. A, SpafTord I"
Jackson Republic, March 1. 1895.
county. Concerning this memorable sea-
son, Mr. ']'. .1. Knox, of .lackson, has writ-
Icii :
The winter of 1872-73 will lonn lie reniendier-
ed as the longest and severest that this coun-
try Inis ever experieiKed. It lie}.'an on the
I2t!i ilay of Noveniher with a lilizzard that
continne<l for tliree days, during wliieli time
snow fell to a jireat deptli. prolml)ly not less
than two feet, hut which was so blown about
and drifted by the wind that in some jdaees
lliere were drifts of twenty feet or more. The
newly constructed railway was hopelessly
Idockaded. and remained so imtil the following
spriiiff. From the time winter so set in there
was llllle let up in tlie severity of the weather.
One storm followed anotlier. and when not
stormini; the weather was cold and severe,
while the deep snows, almost constantly
drifting', mule Ir.ivei dillieult and .■•omi'l inu-s
danjjerinis. Durinj; that Ion;; winter
till' inliabitai'ts of this part of the state were
practically sliut out from the world. At times
there were no mails for three weeks at a
stretcli. Many people suffered for want of
necessary food, elotliin;; and fuel. Tlie siUTer-
inf;s and horrors of that Ion;; and dreadful
winter will never be effaced from tlie memories
of those who experienced them.
The ill-fated year isr;i began with the
iiiosi violent winter storm in the hi.story
of the state from the time of its fii-st set-
tlement to the present date. F^or three
days, beginning January 7. the blizzard
raged, extending over the whole north-
west. The tempcralurc was about eigh-
teen degrees below zero during the whole
|)eriod of tlic storm. The air was fiileil
with snow as fine as llmir. Through every
crevice, keyhole and nailhole the fine snow
|ienetrated, i)ufTing into the house like
steam. Seventy liuman lives were lost in
the storm in ^finnesota. but by a miracu-
lous turn of fate none of these was in
.lackson county. It was the only county
ill the vicinity that escaped without loss
of life.
The forenocm of Tuesday. .January 7.
was mild and ]i]ea-.\n( ; the sky was clear
and there was no wind. It seemed as
ihoiigh a "January thaw" was imminent,
'i'he pleasant weather had induced many
farmers to start to town on business or to
the neighboring farm houses with their
HISTOEY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
143
families to visit. A little after noon a
change was apparent. The sky lost its
cTvstal clearness and became a trifle hazy.
Towaril two o'clock a white wall was seen
bearing down from the northwest. The
front of the storm was distinct and al-
most as clearly defined as a great sheet.
In a few minutes a gale, moving at the
rate of thirty or forty miles an hour, was
sweeping the country; a full-fledged bliz-
zard had .supplanted the bright sunshine
in a few moments. The air was so com-
pletely filled with flying snow that it was
impossible to see objects a short distance
away.
The siorm began with such fury that
nearly all who were in the villages or at
neighbors" homes abandoned the idea of
reaching their own firesides and found
shelter witli friends or at the hotels. Even
some wlio were caught away from home in
the villages, only a few blocks away, did
not attempt lo brave the dangers of get-
ting home. All Tuesday night, Wednes-
day and Wednesday night the storm raged
with unabated fury. Xot until Thurs-
day wa.s there any perceptible let-up, and
not until Friday was the storm over. Sev-
•eral Jackson county residents were caught
on the prairie in the storm, but there was
not a single case of severe freezing. Some
were obliged to spend two or three days
in deserted claim shanties, but all were
found alive after the storm.
Anders I'. Kilen, of Belmont township,
had a narrow escape. He wa.s returning
home from Heron Lake when the storm
struck, and when about three miles from
his house he took refuge in a board claim
shanty. The furniture of the shanty con-
sisted of a coffee pot partly filled with
screenings, a plow, a hammer and a liitle
hay. From Tuesday afternoon until Fri-
day morning Mr. Kilen battled for his
life in the lonelv cabin. He tried to kin-
dle a fire l)y striking sparks from the plow
with the hammer, but the plow was too
hard and he was unsuccessful, so he kept
from freezing by physical exercise, spend-
ing three days pacing back and forth with-
in the narrow confines of the cabin. He
utilized the hay to fill the cracks in the
shanty and to make hay ropes, with which
to bind his benumbed limbs. He ate the
streenings and used snow for dessert.
When the storm liroke he found his way
home, not much the worse for his experi-
ence.
A large acreage of small grain and corn
was sown in the spring of 1873, and the
grain grew luxuriantly during the spring
months. Everybody was enthusiastic over
the prosjjects — a state of mind wliieh was
soon to be turned to gloom.
The first grasshopper invasion of Jack-
son county was on Saturday, June 14,
1873. People noticed something floating
through the air from west to east, at a
great height and apparently drifting with
the wind. At first ."^ight it was taken
to be the fluff that comes from cottonwood
trees, but before long a few scattering ob-
jects began coming to the earth from the
floating clouds, and they were found to
be gra.s.shoppers — forerunners of a scourge
that for several years devastated this part
of the country and resulted in the retar-
dation of the county's progress for many
years.
The flight kept up for several days, and
then tlie pe-sts took their departure. A
great many came down and feasted on the
growing crops and deposited their eggs
in the ground."* Great damage was done
to the crops, but not so great as in later
years, and a light harvest was gathered.^
I'he storv of the invasion was told bv the
'Egp.s were deposited preferably in solid
frround and to a depth of from one-half inrh to
r>^p inch. The tail of the female grasshopper
is a hard. honv. cone-shaoed .substance, and
this was easjlv bored into the solid ground and
the ej;:gs deposited.
^The damage to crops in Minnesota in 1873
was officially estimated at $3,034,000.
144
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Jackson Republie in it? issue ol Juno 21 :
Our curiosity is siatiatwl. We have always
Iiail a desire to see one of t'.iosc "clouds" of
fjrasslioppers. of wliicli «e Imvc read from time
to time. Tlii'V liave Iiieii here for a week in
countless millions ami yet we liave failed to
discern any (liminution of strenfjtli of the
sun's rays.' To he sure there were plenty of
them in the air. hut were only visihle in a
small radius around the sun. As a matter of
coursi'. sonu' of the timid settlers want to
.sell and get away, takin;; it for };ranted that
their crops will all he eaten oil' and a famine
ensue. Many lields of wheat and harley were
mercilessly j-ohhlcd hv the ho])pers. at least to
jud<:e from appearance, hut careful examina-
tion shows that the injury is comparatively
.slight. The pests have taken their departure
and the fields are making rapid |)rogress in
gaining the growth the crops lost.
A fanner iesi(lin<? in the nortlicin jjnrt
of the county told of the ravages of the
pests in his ncijihborhootl ami the at-
tempts to jiiotcet the grain:
The all engrossing siibject in this vicinity
at present is the grasshopper question. They
made their appearance here last Saturday af-
ternoon and immediately hegaii their aggres-
sive niovenu-nls. Ne.\t day they ate five or six-
acres of my wheat. Their numhers rapidly in-
creased, the air seeming to he full of them.
They resemlded large Hakes of snow in a
snow storm, ami they smm took possession ol
all the grain lields in the ni'ighhorhood. Iheak
iiig teams had a general holiday: men travel-
ed their fields, not knowing what to do. so suil
den and unexpected was the general imslaughf.
A few with small fields and large families
marshaled all their available forces, who, with
long poles and switches, walked their fields a
few rods apail and thus tried to chase otf the
invaders, hut their numhers increased so fast
that the ceaseless elTorts proved of little avail.
A fi'W of the more despondent are olTeriiig
their ilaims for sale at ruint)Us figures ami
starting in searih of some region where grass-
hoppers are unkmiwii. Hut it is really en-
couraging to see how cIm erf nl and (ouragcovis
the great majority are. The earlier sown oats,
so far as I have heard, are as yet compara-
tively safe.
Grjisshoppers were .^een in the air again
on .\iigust 2, but they pa.ssed over with-
out stopping to feed. At liarvest time it
was found tlnit tliose fields whiili had
not been molested yielded abundantly.
The hoppers seenieil to prefer wlieat. and
the oats were not badly damaged. Corn
Ihat had been well put in was a fine crop.
(In .\ugust 23 the Jackson Republic said
id' tile harvest:
Some men have no grain worth cutting, while
their neighhors' fields lying alongside have a
large yield, and on other farms some piews
or parts are poor ami the rest good. As
a general rule, those who have high rolling
land on their farms have heavy crops, while
some whose farms are wet were unable to get
their seed put ill well ill the spring, and. being
backward, was nice and tender for the hop-
pers. Those who have lost their crops mu-t
not dc'spair, but rather jirofit by the experi
cnce anil give more attention to stock raising.
In addition to the gras.sho]ipfr dcvasta-
lion, liie jianie. which held the cnuntry
in its grip in 1ST;], added m the hard
times which followed. The loss of their
erojjs left many' families in destitute cir-
cumstances, and there was much sulTer-
ing. When winter came it was known
that some measure for the relief of the
ilestitute must be taken. During the clos-
ing davs of De(^cniber mass meetings to
discuss the situatimi were held at Heron
Lake and at Jacksnn.
'I'lie lleiiin Lake meeting was held De-
i-eiiilier '.'(1. Dr. IJ. K. Foster was the
chainiian and John T. Smith swretary.
.\ cimiiiiittee composed of J. W. Heii.son.
John T. Smith. .1. V. i'le.scotl. John Weir
and K. Johnson was named to make an
investigation as to the neetls of the citi-
zens. E.\-Ciovernor Stephen stiller ar-
rived at Heron Lake the next day and
left some funds which he bad obtained
from the relief committee at St. Paul tn
relieve the immediate wants of the desti-
tute. On the 29th the committee divided
!j;(il_onc-half the amount in the treasury
— among ten residents who applied for
aid. A Heron Lake citizen, writing on
that date, said: "Today there were ten
])ersons here for aid. Some of them were
in actual starving condition. They did
not know where the bread to eat was com-
ing from two days hence."
The mass meeting at Jackson was held
December 29. T. J. Kno.x was chairman
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY. 145
anil Alexander Fiddes was secretan'. A ern portions of the countv, and Alexander
central enmniittee was appointed, com- Fiddes and J. AV. Hunter who should
posed of the following named gentlemen : make the distribution in the southern and
W. S. Kijiihall, M. A. Strong, E. L. eastern portions. Each committee receiv-
Hrouiiell. (i. P). Franklin and George C. ed $270.
('lianil)erlin, of .Jackson: J. T. Smith, of General H. H. Sibley, the head of the
IFeron Ijake : H. J. Phelps, of Kound state relief work, reported on July 9,
Lake: Ole E. Olson, of Belmont. The 1874, that he had turned over to Jackson
committee was instructed to correspond county committees the sum of $1,007 for
with parties in St. Paul and elsewhere the relief of settlers up to that time. The
with regard to obtaining I'elief for those dates, amounts and parties to whom he
in want and to ascertain liow much seed luid sent the money were as follows:"
wheat was needed for the next season. Dec. 24, 1S73: Heron Lake committee,
The committees at once entered upon' '^^ ^o' '^l^-*',''- 'tT'*"*'"',- ', :' ■ ■*'-'"
' .Jan. 2, 18^4: Heron Lake committee,
tlieir duties. They canvas.sed the county J. T. Smith, secretary 150
east and south of Heron Lake, where there •^""- .l'^- J^'f'- "<''■''" ^^"'^'^ committee,
■L 1 . Smitli, secretary 100
was the greatest suffering, and reported .Jan. 27, 1874: Heron "Lake committee,
findino- 86 pensons in need of aid. The ^^- ^- ^''"'' secretary pro tem 100
- Jan. 30, 1874, Heron Lake committee, G,
authorities m St, Paul were notihed and H. Carr, secretary pro tem 150
asked to send supijlies at once. The arti- -^I""- ^^' l^"*= H^"'"" Lake committee, J.
1 1 1 J. ii 1 ., ■ ,■ ^'^'^"'' treasurer 50
eles asked tor were mostly clothing lor Apr. 16, 1874: Heron Lake committee.
women and children. Three articles of J- "^^^eir, treasnrer 100
,. , ,-1 „ , June 24, 1874: Heron Lake committee,
I I wi'V lounii necessary — tiour, pnric ,J. Weir, treasurer 50
and beans. About the middle of January •^""- ^f*' ^^^■^- 0'*= Tollefson, postmas-
, , r: , • ,. , . ter. Belmont ,50
tile hrst consignment of supplies was re- A,)r. 16, 1874: Jlajor H. S. Bailey, .Jack-
ceived and distributed by the committee at s°" ' I'lO
,r T 1 13 ^ 4- j-i V i? ■ ■ J""<" -''• 1'^"-': Major H. 8. Bailey, .Jack-
lieron Lake. Part ot the relief ^vas m son .' . 50 '
cash, the balance in clothing. On the 21st
oi January the Jackson committee receiv- ° ^ '
ed 19 sacks of ilour and three boxes of ''''''' Heron Lake committee, composed
clothing sent by the citizens of Stillwa- "'' ''• ^^'- Benson, chairman; J. T. Smith,
ter. The ^u))plies were distributed the *=ecretary ; John Weir, treasurer; and J.
next day. ' I"- Prescott, reported the ilivision of its
Petitions were poured into the legisla- ^^^^'^ °^ ^'"* amount as follows: Two
ture from all the stricken counties, a,sk- h"n<^red dollars were spent for garden
ing for appropriations. Eealizing the grav- •'^''''''^' A""'' ''>'^'l corn meal and distribut-
ity of the situation, the legislature, late '^'^ ^° ^'^'^ different persons; $C0G.89 was
in January, appropriated $.3,000 for re- distributed in cash. Major Bailey spent
lief in the frontier counties, and in Feb- ^^^^ ^1°° "*^°* ^" ''"" f°r flour and pork,
ruary appropriated $3.5,000 to be expend- ^"^ '^^^^y ^^^ I'eported the distribution of
ed for seed grain to be furnished to those ^^''^^'^ articles to the yalue of $111,07 and
unable to procure seed. Of the cash ap- *''"* '^'^ '^''"'' "" '''^"'^ $:?8.9.'5.
p.-opriatinn, .$.540 was Jackson county's ^^ *'*'' '"^^^r part of March. 1874. the
share. John Weir and J. T. Smith were ^^^'^ ^'^*^''* distribution was made. Jack-
named as the parties who should conduct ^"" county's share was 3,500 bushels, and
Ibc distribution in the northern and west- oLetter h. h. SiWey. ji.iy 9. iS74.
146
IIISTOIJY OF .JACKSON COUNTY.
there were so ninny applicants that the
average to eaeli person was only seven
flBfl one-half hiishol-. and many liad to
go without.' Part of the wheat was tlis-
tribulecl hy the CDiinnittoe at Heron I^ake
ami jiart hy Major U.S. Bailey and Hans
Kmidsun at Windom.
During the harrowing times in the
winter of 1873-74, when hundred.-; of
.lackson eounty eitizens were living on
eharity, the last three townships of the
eounty began township government.
During the fore part of the winter resi-
dents of township 103, range 37. peti-
tioned the county CDmmissioners, asking
that they he detached fnim Heron Tiake
town.-ihip and granted a government of
their own. The ]);'tition was granted Jan-
uary 7, 1874. and tiie new township was
named West Heron Lake, its geographical
location suggesting the name. li\ the lat-
ter part of the same month the township
was organized with tiie following (par-
tial) list of officers: Kohcrt Johnson,
chairman : John Christie, clerk ; Johannes
ToUefson. treasurer; Evan Pederson, jus-
tice of the peace; Xils Olson, constable.
Owing to the fact that Heron lake
divided the township into two parts, those
living in the northeast corner — to the east
of the lake — were not so closely associat-
ed with the people of the re.=t of tlir Inwn-
ship as tJicy were with those of Heron
Lake township, and they petitioned, early
in February, 1874, to lie attached to llie
latter township. N'o action was taken at
that time, but in April, 187.5. another
petition was presented to the county board,
a.sking for the same legislation. On June
21 the desired action was taken, and the
northeast corner of West Heron Lake
'"Thesf .-iro busy days In Heron Lake. The re-
lief rommlltce. Me.ssr.-i. Ben.son. Wolr iin<l Smith,
have recefveil iiver .1.000 Iiiishels nf whe:it tn
Uo distributed In Jaek.Mon eounty. mthI the i>eo-
ple are eomIn>T l»i In jrreat numbers after It.
The amount each will receive will be quite
small, there being so many applicants." — Heron
I.akc Correspondent. March 25. 1S71.
township was given to Heron I^ake town-
.-lii]i.
The following were early day residents
of West Heron I^ake township who sccur-
eil laud from the government in that pre-
cinct :
1872. t'lunles Kiselier (12). Jolin Kiibson
(241 : 187:», Rot)ert .lolin.son (22); 1874. ller-
num Peler (2). (Jeorjie II. ("arr (ti). Unniaine
Slieire 1 1) I. Charles C. Lanpwiirtliv I lOi. William
Wiley (12): 1875. William II.' Ashley (12).
Thomas C. Di.von (22): I87(i. Newton K. West
(2). ("laus Liir-son (Si. tlirisl()|il;er H. Kiihert
(I2:i2). Andrew 1-. .laekson (ISi. David l".
Cleveland (.14): 1877. Isaac Christy (4). Chris-
ten Isakson (8): 187S. John Christy (18),
Sever Severson (20). .Tohan L. Ilatifje (.30).
Severt A. !,. Ilausie (.id): 1.S7!). Henry H. .lohn-
son (6). JInrtin R. -lolmson (t!) : 18,sn. Carl (J.
Piter (2). Ole O. Seleen (8). ()U> Hanson (18).
Kveii Peterson (20), Andrew C. Serum (28):
1884. (jeortie Schneidler (2). (leorfie .lolmson
(12-:i4): 188.i, Nils Olscui (4|, Iver Ilaun-lsiui
(18): 188fi. Tollef Mieliaelson (81. Ilalvor
Ilendriekson (24): ISSR. Kari Tollefson (8).
K'ost township came into existence Feb-
ruary 3, 187 I. Tt was named in honor of
Frederick Host, who was one of the early
day settlers of the precinct, locating there
in 18(59. ' 'i'hc names of some of the early
homesteaders of Uost township, as shown
iiy the patents to land graiited, were as
follows :
1872, Cliarli's Sniilli (22). Krancis (i. Kay
mond (24): 187(>. Ch.irles Host (2(i). William
Kromroy (:14). Charles Hoss (:14): 1877. Wil-
liam Uiisl (141. Herman Kosl (22). Frederick
Host (2(i). Helnuit Kilsl (28). Albert Kusl(2S).
Henry Wcyner (30); 1878. .Iiilius Dicker ((».
I'lcilerick Schultz ( 12).- l-udwiii'; Wevncr Cloi.
Willielm Haiike (32): lS7!t. .lames 15. Hahliill
(lil. I'ranz Meister (20): 1880. Krederick Mil
tle-(adt (IS). Louise I.udtki' (2lll. Louisa Mil-
liralli (.32): ISSl. Iticliard Sucker (2): 1883.
.-Viiyust Wclibi r (2l: 1SS4. Tyiidwii; l.uenebiirp
(Idl. Will'elminc Kno.'pp (loi: 188."). (o'ortje
lleiser (8): 18S8. I'erdinand .Milhrath (18):
ISSn. Gustnve A. Andors-on (4).
Sioux Valley was the last Jackson coun-
ty township to bt>gin township govern-
niiiil. Ill accordance with the prayer of
petitioners, the commissioners created the
•The offlfilal proceedlr.gs of the board of
county commissioners show thai the township
was created ns "Kust." In fact, that was Ih^-
acceptcd spelllnB of the name for several yeprs
Later, without any offlcl.-il procedure, the
correct spelllnB was adapted. The name of the
family was also often spelled "Rust."
THE ANDREW MONSON CABIN
One of the Oldest Log Cabins in Jackson County.
PIONEERS
The Engraving is Reproduced from a Tintype Taken During Grasshopper Times. The
Men shown are (Back Row, Standing, from Left to Right) Wallace Bailey, L. F. Ashley,
Menzo L. Ashley, Than Hall, Jr., Joseph E. Thomas, Jr., John Tagley, A. D. King, L. P.
Cook, Thad Rucker, M. S. Barney, 0. F. Ale.xander, B. W. Ashley; (Lower Row, Sitting),
Clark Baldwin, C. H. Sandon, J. F. Ashley, A. C. Wood (Between Rows), William V. King,
J. J. Smith, Henry Blakey, Than Hall and Ira G. Walden.
THE l-JEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
•'■""OH, LEtMX «N0
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
147
township Ffliniaiv 3T, 1874, naming it
Sioux Yailev after tiie river which flows
through it. The early day liome.<teaclers
who receiveil title to their lands from the
government were:
1S7.3. Levi.M. Bridell (10), Wasliington Sliaf-
t'lT (12), John Spencer (2(i) ; 1S74, Ichabod Dyer
(10-12), Jareb I'almer (10): Kernev C. Lowell
(32); 1875, Edwin E. Myrick (24)', Abednego
Davis (26); 1870, Levi H. Stratton (34); 1877,
Renben Tivey (14), Cliailes H. Greer (14), Nel-
son Willfox (24), William ISarnett (31): 1878,
.lolin Tiutterfield (2), .Tuliiis Dreger (6), Charles
K. Reiter (8), Ezra A. Hopkins (18), Carlos M.
Hardy (20); 187!t, Jlartin Reiter (8); 1880,
George A. .Johnson (32); LSSl. Gustaf Xvstrom
(31); 1SS3, Krank Benoil (2), (^reoi-ge o'. Bord-
well (4). Car] Lidberg (28), Anna Moberg (31).
Abraliani Mcr'ulja (34) ; 1884, Francis JL Hor-
tnn (12); 1885, Detlef Hollmer (10), Helge
Tuison (30), Bengt 8taaff (30): 1888, Eliza-
betli L. Stone (4)^ Fred Jlead (28).
If there had been a belief that the grass-
liopper scourge was to be only a temporary
bliglit on the prospects of Jackson coun-
ty, it was rudely dispelled. The visita-
tion of 18T3 was as nothing compared
with what followed. The story of the
years to follow is one of heartrending mis-
ery. From Manitoba to Texas the grass-
ho])pers brought desolation and suffering
in 1874, the visitation being general along
the whole frontier. Especially destnic-
tive were they in southwestern Minnesota
and in Kansas and Nebra.ska.
In Jackson county the eggs which had
been deposited by the visiting hordes in
1873 began to hatch during the first days
of May." While the pests had been con-
sidered numerous the year before, there
Avere now more than ten times as many.
The appetites of the youngsters were good,
but no great damage was done until the
"The process of hatching was interesting. In
each nest, a half inch or more below the sr.r-
lace of the ground, were from twenty to fifty
eggs. When the sun warmed the ground suf-
ficiently to hatch the egfs, the- pithy coyering
ot ttie nest popped oft and a stiuirming mass of
little yellow hoppers poured out. Each was en-
cased in a sort of shell or skin, which it im-
mediately began to pull off. Then, after taking
a momenf.s yiew of the world, each little hop-
per hopped awav in search of something to
eat. At birth they were about a quarter of
an inch long and had no wings, but these de-
veloped rapidly.
last days of May. Said the Jackson Ke-
]iul)lic on May 30 :
It was not until this week that the devasta-
tion by tills scourge commenced in earnest, but
in tlie few days they have been harvesting the
crops, they have put in full time and done
clean work. Whole iields in many places have
been stripped of the growing grain and in
others large spots liave Ijeen scooped out. Xot
satisfied with eating the green leaves, they eat
right down in the ground to the roots.
It was at this stage of the proceedings
that many people left the county. In
many instances those who had not secured
title to tiieir farms deserted them, never
more to return. ;\Iany who had title sold
for what they could get or mortgaged
their farms if they could locate an east-
erner unsophisticated enough to loan
money on such security. These, too, left
the county. The greater number of the
able bodied men who decided to stay
sought work in the eastern part of the
state to earn enough money to carry them
and their families through the winter. The
local paper on June G said : '•'Settlers
are turning back to t.he older counties to
get work to support their families, and
the ruling question is, 'Are you going east
to get work?'" The general land office
made a ruling that homesteaders in the
gra,^.shopper infested counties miglit de-
sert their claims for certain lengths of
time to earn a livelihood without taking
the chance of losing the claim.
During the latter part of June the dam-
age was great, and in the parts of the
county most numerou.sly infested little
wa,s left growing but the wild prairie
grass. The wings of the young hoppers
became fully developed on June 19, and
three days later they began their flight
out of the country. For several days, from
ten o'clock in the morning until three in
the afternoon, the air was tilled with the
wdnged immigrants, all traveling in a
northeasterly direction. It was hoped
that they would go and leave the little
148
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
that had escaped, but it was not to be. suits for yoa.s to .ome .an only be rei.rfs..Mt-
' i-(l bv millions of dollars. lakinp: .lackson
The Jackson Republic, which liad always (.,„i„ty in wbolr. wlu-at will probably not
before spoken cncomajjement, on July 4 "verajie two bnsin-U per a.io. or ono-.Mjji.tb of
'. „ , .1 " a crop; oats will not bo rniicn betti-r. wliile
bailey is an entire failine: eorn may be half
a I'lop and potatoes about tlio same.
gave n|i linjie for any crop and said:
All f;cine'. Not the niasslioppers. as was
hoped, but the oats, eorn and potatoes that
had been left until tliis week. The eban<;inn
winds liave brou-;!!! baek all the };ra~>1ioppers,
with myriads of reinfonemoiits, and they have
mowed riown aliout ererytliinj; before them.
Xow thai all - hope for a erop is ■;one, the
only prayer of the people is that they may be
taken away before they commenee depositing
their eggs, wljieh will no dcmlit be not lon^r
hence.
Tlic (lest roving- Mgcnts rciiiaiiied in
Jaek.son county until the middle of July,
anil then all took their departure. They
(lid not deposit CiTg- in tiie county, al-
though they did in many other parts of
Minnesota. Before (lieir departure the
This sectiud successiye crop failure was
a terrible blow. A great many who liad
not been hard pres.-cd by the conditions
in IST;') were now reiluced to the common
level : their savings liad been spent and
they Jiail no income. Those who ^ve^e not
compelleil to live on charity were com-
])eiled to ]iractice tiie most rigid economy.
Hay furni.slied the fu(d ; potatoes, ]iiimp-
kiiis and s(|uashe.s — a few vegetables left
by the hoppers — supplied the bulk of the
food. Jleat was not on the bill of fare ex-
county became literally alive with them. eei)t for tlio.se who could use a gun ami bag
So thick was the air wifli tlie flying pests
that at times the sun was jiartially ob-
scured. They appeared to the people be-
low like a vast eloud,. sweeping sometimes
in one direction, sometimes in another —
alwavs going with tlie wind. .\t even-
ing, when they came down near tiie enrtli.
the noise they made was like a roaring
wind. After gorging themselves with the
cro])s, the hoppers became stupid and
piled up in the tields and along the roads,
often to a depth of one or two feet. Horses
eoiihl iiardly be driven through them.
Stories have been told of railway trains
becoming blockaded by the pests so as to
be unable to move until the iiLseets were
shoveled from the track. Concerning the
losses the Keiniblic, in the latter part of
July, said :
The aetnni loss from the seonrge in this
year's erop will afjfirepn t e more than .1-2nO,nOO,"
while the loss arisinj; from abaniloned farms,
removal of settlers with their pi'rsonal prop-
erly, and the sta-{natioii piveii to fanning pur
"AecordiiiK lo the report of the roTomlssiniu'r
of slatl.xtlis. the liiss iif the .several erojis In
twontv-eljiht eouoltes of Minnesota in IST-l was
as fiillows: Wheat. 2.046.8112 bushels: oat-s,
l.Slfi.T.IS InKshels; eorn. 73S.415 bushels: barley.
58,962 bushels; potatoes. 221.ir.t bushels; llax
seed, 62,S33 bushels.
the jjraiiie chickens and diieks tiial were
in great aimndance. The people boit> their
trials more cheerfully than might have
been e.xpecteil and made jireparations t"
try their luck again tiie next yeir. In
plowing for their next year's cmi). llic
I'armcis nearly ruined their horses, being
without the necessary grain to feed them.
.\s has been slated, money and siip])lies
for relief were sent to .lackson county dur-
ing the whole winter of lS7:?-7^ and inl ■
the spring months. In addition lo tlioM
ilc'us mentioned, (Ui .lanuary IT. 1S7 I.
(he i(itinl\ eommissitmers received from
(iovemor Davis 1!)0 sack.* of flour and
ten barrels of ]iork. which were dislrib-
nted at once.
li'ealizing the gravity of the situation,
in the midst of the devastation of ISTl.
Governor Ciishmaii K. Davis issued a stir-
ring apjieal. stating the conditions ami
tlie need of large contributions to prevent
many of the residents of the state from
perishing. Ills ajjpeal was adilressed to
the Grange organizations and was as fol-
lows :
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
149
state of Minnesota. Execntive Department,
St. Paul. July 1, 1874.
To tlie (iranges: I am compelled to ask the
cooperation of eacli grange of your powerful
organization in relieving tlie destitution of
our fellow citizens in southwestern counties.
Tliat region has been traversed by trustwortliy
men, sent out by me for that purpose, and
tliey report unanimously a destitution wliich
lias no parallel in our history as a state. The
time for silence as to the condition of affairs
has passed by. and the time for prompt and
liberal action byall who are willing to do as
tliey would lie done by lias arriveil.
Tlie counties of Martin, JIurray, .Jackson,
Cottoiiwood, ])ortions of Nobles and Waton-
wan, and possibly to some extent in other com-
munities, have been swept by grasshoppers of
all crops as comjiletely as by fire.
Women and children are suffering for food.
The implements and stocks of tl;e settlers are
under mortgages given to tide over the priva-
tions of last year.
I have told these people that their fellow-
citizens, whom a kind I'rovidence has blessed
witli abundance, will stand by tliem in this,
tlieir dire extremity.
Contributions in money are most desiral)le.
Provisions and clothing scarce less so. Send
contributions to (ieneral H. II. Sibley. St. Paul,
Minnesota. C. K. D.WLS^ Governor.
The boai-d of couDty commissioners
took cliarge of the relief funds in 1874.
A distribution of cash was made in July.
Also 19,G10 jjounds of Hour and 1,93.5
pounds of jjork were apportioned by the
coiumissioners to the needy in every pre-
cinct in the county. The distribution
averaged si.x pounds of flour and ten
ounces of pork to each needy person,
which certainly could not have gone far
toward meeting the demand." Those two
"The supplies were divided among tlie sev-
eral townships as follows: Flour Pork
r>„t V, Lbs. Lbs.
Petersburg 1 0(IS 105
Middletown S16 S5
M'""eota 648 67
**""'^J 660 68
Des Moines 2,sno 187
Wisconsin 9m, 94
Belmont 1 ■'0-' I'^s '
Enterprise WW, '978 j^g
Kimball 750 ^g
Chnstiania ■ 1,374 143
"5™" Lake 660 68
5.'^'»fl<'l'3 • 1.374 143
Sioux VaUey 496 49
g?st 560 60 ■
^\est Heron Lake 714 74
;^^er 1,314 137
Lap-osse 732 75
^^^^ ■ 756 78
Ewington 975 io2
Round Lake 960 100
'^'^^^ 19,610 1,935
had departed to work in the harvest fields
in the eastern part of the state returned
in August. The conditions in tlieir homes
led many to take their families and de-
part for more congenial surroundings.
Some secured work during the fall and
winter and remained away from Jackson
county until tlie ne.xt spring.
On the "last day of September the com-
missioners received. $300 from General H.
it. Sibley. This was invested in supplies,
which were distributed among the needy.
The same was done with $500 received on
December Vi. Eighteen barrels and twen-
ty-nine sacks of flour Avere received De-
cember 21, and the cnmmi,¥.sioners turned
Hiat over to those in the most destitute
circuuistances. Clothing and other relief
supplies were frequently received during
tlie w'inter from private parties — supplies
which meant much to suffering settlers.
The United States government, in a
small way, assisted in the care of the
unfortunate people of the grasshopper dev-
a.statcd counties by the distribution of
army rations and clothing. Lieutenant J.
F. Huston was in the county April 30
and May 1, dealing out provisions, boots
and overcoats to the most needy.
In all, Jackson county received $3,-
817.83 as its sliare of the slate appropria-
tion, all of which was distributed by the
board of county commissioners.^- The
legislature granted an extension of time
for the payment of ta.xes in some of the
counties, and, of course, Jackson was
among the numiier. Times not improv-
ing, the exten.sion was of little benefit.
People who had not money to buy food
and clothing could not pay taxes.'''
'=The total amount of state funds distributed
as a result of the 1874 appropriation was $15.-
751.56. divided among the devastated counties
a^ follows: Pinewood, $200; Martin, $1.363 87-
Rook. $1,400; Cottonwood, $3,237.02; Watonwan
$1,808.83; Jackson, $2,817.82: Murray, $1,902 82-
N'obles. $1,952.82; Brown, $300; Others. $768.38.
"The act was passed March 1, 1875. and pro-
vided for the extension of time of payment of
personal property taxfs to November 1 in the
150 HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
The question natuially iiiLses: Why did seed a large part of the prepared land.'*
the people of Jacicson county stay in a The seed grain furnished by the state was
country in whicli the grasshoppers a Godsend. Said the Jackson Republic
wrought such damage? It is doubtful if nn May 1.5, 1875: 'That the gra.sshopper
many would have remained could they jjhigui? for the last iwo years in tliL; viiin-
liavc looked ahead and foreseen wiiat they ity has sapped the life blood out of the
still had to go through, for this was not hanl working farmers of the county is ad-
the end of the scourge by any means. But initted, we think, on all hands; that a
the majority did .-.tav with their claims, good portion of the people could not have
'^nd they weathered the storms of adver- remained to cultivate their farms without
sity. Hope was abunc'ant that each year's aid from abroiid is also generally con-
visitation would lie the last. The fertility ceded."
of the soil had been demonstrated, and it A severe blizzard visited Jackson county
was known that once the country was free on ^farch l.j and 16, 1S7."), and adde<l an-
from the pests, it would become one of the other victim to tho.«o who iuive perisheil
richest spots in the west. The settlers by winter storms. The unfortunate man
had invested all their accumulations of was Ileinrich Tubbike, an insane man
former years in improvements, and to who lived in Heron Lake township. He
desert the country meant that they must had been pronounced insane by the pro-
go as paupers. Many were literally too bate court, and his removal to the asylum
poor to pay transportation charges out of ha<l been delayed on account of the bliz-
thc country. zard. Mr. Tubbike escaped from the niem-
Xotwithstanding Llie terrible experi- hers of his family on the Ifith after a
ences of the two preceding years, the hard fight and wandered otT on the prairie,
farmers determined to put in a crop in lie ]icrished in tlie storm, and his body
1875. The ground had been prepared, was found the next day about three miles
but the farmers were without seed grain from the house.
and without the means to purchase it. That there had been a marvelous in-
The legislature came to their rescue with crease in the population of Jack.son county
an appropriation of $75,000, the act pro- during tlie two or three years of the de-
viding-for the distribution of seed grain cade before the grasshoppers came is
to that amount, with certain provisions shown by the census returns of 1875.
for its repayment. A state board of com- ...^he number of acres sow,, ... crop m is;!",.
mi.«sionerS was appointed to conduct »ccor<llnK to the tlBures olUniiu-d by the varlou;.
1 ' township iisse.ssors. was 21.il(1, divided iimoni;
the distriliution. and a local board was 'he township.s as follows:
.\lbjl 6<0
named in each of the stricken counties neimont i.b98
, . Chrlstianla 1..21
to assist in the work. Ihe monev market Deiaheid 3.2U
, ,, , , ", , 1 . Rfs Molnes) 2.260
was tight, and the slate was not able to Knierprise S92
,, . , ., IvwhiKton 380
procure the money to purcha.«e more tlian ii..,on i.ake i.i'o
$.iO.OnO worth of grain. With the grain \^\',".,\Z\ ".'.'.[[[['.[[[\'.\\'.[[['.'.['.]'.'.l\'.'.'.'.'... 7«2
received from the state and that which ^i|Iuu'etown "'!!'.'.!'.!'."!!'."'."!!'. '.''.'.'"'•'■ mt
was in the country, there was enough to ^vi'.'rsbuV ::::::::::::::::: i! ::::::::::::: i.??8
Knund I.ake •'05
counties of Martin. Jackson. Nobles. Rock. Rost «5.
Murray. Cottonwood. Watonwan. Renville. Lyon Sioux ^ alley <"J
snd parts of BIuo ICarlh. Karlbault and Brown. W elmer '-i""
In order to secure the extension it was neces- West Heron Lake i»-
sar>- for the residents to give proof that they Wisconsin '"
were unable to pay their taxes because of loss .,
of crop in 1874 from grasshoppers or hail. Total ii.iiv
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
151
In spite of the fact that there had been
no immigration since 1873 and that a
great many had mo\ed away, there were
found to be 3,.50G permanent residents in
1875 — a gain of nearly 100 per cent in
five year?. The population of the various
townships was as follows :
Alba 142
Belmont 287
Christianiii 310
Des Moines 388
Enterprise 106
Ewington 89
Heron Lake 125
Hunter 61
Kimliall 1.59
LaCrosse 265
Middletown 139
Minneota 112
Petersburg 167
Eost 105
Round Lake 104
Sioux Valley 80
Weimer 287
West Heron Lake 117
Wisconsin 118
Total 3,.506
The free seed grain was sown in the
spring of 1875; it germinated and appear-
ed above the ground. Then came the
days of anxiety. Would the grasshopper
scourge again come with its ruin and des-
olation ? As tlie season advanced the peo-
ple with deep concern scanned the skies
for the appearance of tlie pests. As eggs
had not been deposited in Jackson county
the preceding season, there were no young
hoppers, and the only apprehension was
in regard to an inva.sion of "foreign"
hoppers. Blackbirds and gophers were
quite numerous early in the season and
did a lot of damage to crops, especially
corn, but n(it a grasshopper put in an ap-
pearance.
Tidings of approaching invaders came
on Monday, June 28. It was reported by
wire that a vast army was on the way to
the northwest from Iowa, that a number
of them were passing over Sioux City and
that they extended as far north as Shel-
don. A few stragglers on the right fianlc
of this army passed over Jackson county,
but as a general thing they kept high in
the air. Only a very few alighted — not
enough to do any damage.
The county was free of the pests until
Saturday, July 10. Then they came in
great droves out of the northeast. They
were not full grown and were those which
hatched in the Minnesota river valley.
They attacked the growing grain with
their old time voracity and brought de-
spair to the hearts of the settlers.^' They
feasted on the green fields Sunday and
^londay, but their numbers were not
nearly so great as they had been the year
before. Many farms swarmed with them,
while upon others there was none at all.
Even some of those fields upon which the
grasshoppers were tlie thickest were not
entirely destroyed. Monday the hoppers
showed signs of a desire to migrate, but
unfavorable winds and tempting grain
were sufficient reasons for their lingerins
another day. About eleven o'clock on the
forenoon of Tuesday they took up their
line of flight to the north ; the county was
again free of the pests.
The settlers kept track of the move-
Tnents of the grasshoppers in different
parts of the country as they would have
those of an invading army of soldiers. So
far, a large part of the crop was saved,
liut they knew that only by chance could
they escape total destruction. They felt
as though the sword of Damocles was sus-
pended over them, ready to fall at any
moment.
The respite was not long. The hoppers
appeared in the north part of the county
""Had an earthquake shaken up our people,
or a cyclone swept destruction over our com-
munity, neither would have excited and dis-
couraged our citizens so much as it did to
see those hungry, hopping' pests slashing awav
at the grain fields. After two years of de-
struction the sight of luxurious crops had been
a fascinating one. and now to see the third
crop going was certainly enough to make strong
men surrender. It was a discouraging mo-
ment to farmers and an anxious one to business
men." — Republic. July 17, 1S75.
152
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
(in Tuesday, July 2'i, about noon. In the
Heron Lake country they lighted in the
lields and coninieneed eating voraciously.
Thf 1'arnicr.<, who were beeoniing well ae-
([uainted with tlieii' mode of warfare,
look a defensive attituile and began ply-
ing them with smoke, fire and brimstone.'"
The hoppers slowly worked southward,
and on Friday, Julv 'i'-i. had enieied the
second tier of townships. As they jiro-
ceeded they deposited their eggs. This
invasion was confined almost entirely to
the north half of Jackson county, only a
few getting into the southern townshijis,
and those doing but little damage.
The hoppers remained in the northern
part of the county until early in August;
tiien they departed. Considerable damage
was done in Christiaiiia township and in
the country aluuit lli ron hake. They also
entered the lownsiiip.; of l-'nterprise. Bel-
mont and Iferon Lake. Hut these ]iii]>-
pers were not so numerous as they had
been formerly. It was a ragamuiTin, Fal-
stafl'in army compared with that of ]S7^.
Their appetites appeared to be poor, and
they were of a degenerate breed : bushels
died after laying their eggs, and the ex-
hausted remnant departed from the coun-
ty. A big jiercentage of the crop was
saved, and the farmers eagerly began the
harvest. On August 7 the Republic sized
up the situation as follows:
Our farnuTs are now oii}»a>;*'(i in liarvcstinj;
"There was really very little that the settlers
could do to destroy or oheck the pests, al-
thoiiRh many schemi'S were tried. Nothing
availed aKaliisI the InvadhiK hordes, hut In the
('.ise of the native hoppers tlie farmers waffed
a more or less successful war by th<' use of
tar. "Iloitperdozers." a si>rt of drag, made of
sheet Iron and wood, would be covered with
tar and draKKi-d over the ground. The young
h(tppers would be caught In the tar and de-
stroyed. Another scheme was to prevent prai-
rie fires during the summer ami fall, conserv-
ing the grass until aflir the hoppers had
liatched In the spring. Then on a given day
the count.v would be liurned over and the pests
destroyed. Dllches would hv dug and the hop-
pers driven into them and destroyed: scoop nets
were used, but little headway could be made
with them. In some of the comities Imunties
were paid for them. In seven such counties
liS.OlS Ini.shels were captured, upon which Ijoun-
tles aggregating J76.788.J2 were paid: still no
difTerence was noticed In the damage done.
the finest crop ever yrown in .laeksoii county.
This tuwiisliip I Des Muines|. and perhaps
otlier-. will undoulttedly tlie present season
produie a> niiieh as was ever before raised in
one year in the entire county. True, in sev
era] towns the hinifiry lioppers have injured
the crops, lint in the county at larye there is
a liountil'ul vieM. We may he wronjilv informed
as to the amount lefi. !iut by fre(|uenl ini|iliries
in rcfjard to crops in the localities tlic worst
ilevastated we find that portions ot the crop
are saved and in instances lielils are in)t in-
jnre<l at all. Hut if I here is an approach to n
total loss in any township we have yet to
learn of it. Not only wheat and onts are im
mense. hut corn, to use Donnelly's favorite
word, is "enormous."
The crop was well secured, all working
with a will in gathering the yield. It was
a new experience — the harvesting of a
ci-op. But the an.vieties of the .season were
not yet over. During the entire week be-
ginning .\ugust .■)! there was a continual
diiwn])our of rain, which did much dam-
age to grain in shock and stack. That in
the shock sprouted, and all was more or
les< damaged. Blight damaged .•^omc of
I lie wheat, and instead of grading No. 1.
it was second and third grade.
The .conditions during the winter of
lS7.")-76 were so much better than they
had been during the two pi-eceding win-
ters Ihat very little relief was needed, and
the county wa.« able to siipjily its own seed
for the ne.xt crop.
In 1875 for the first time a united ef-
foil was made to fight the grasshoppers.
On .\ugust 24 a county grasshopper con-
vention was held at Jackson to devise
means of fighting thi' common enemy the
next season. II II. Stone was cliairman
of the convention and E. V. Skinner was
seeretarv. A general committee was
named. compa«ed of the following named
genllemen : Alexander Fiddes, Edward
Orr, Hans Knudsnn, Henry Kntidson, H.
J. Phelps. .J. V. I'rescott and E. B. Mil-
lard. Tbe.se gentlemen were delegated with
jiower to have general supervision of the
campaign and to appoint three persons in
each township to work with them. The
^<l^'
^l>o^"'^^*s
o^.
EXEC UTI VE D E I'A KTMENT .
_i>^////y v^////. >^^^ '' ^i!'~'/)/i
i^-i^-i^ ^^1^^^
/?1^>L- A ,X--£-7^ t.-^€^'C^
C .'-■ ^« /-*^-C-tjr *~ ( f .' , i- . -- ^/r"-' ^
^-
<^.u .<
-■^ /^'^'~ ^l^^"^
V^
z.
^/// ^/i,- .-, .(^
^ < - . 1>Cl^ Ctr
y
,, , <^ /'•<- ■■'•,'< /^TTTc'' /^v.-^- P-.X.., i^c ^
/.'.
if
/
-jr^L,.
A REMINDER OF GRASSHOPPER DAYS
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
153
principal object to be attained was the
preservation of the prairie grass until the
following spring.
The year 1876 opened auspiciously.
Despite the forebodings of disaster from
another grasshopper visitation, the people
were in good spirits. This was caused
largely by the prospects of the extension
of the Soutliern Minnesota railroad into
and through the county, from Winnebago
City to Worthington. Surveyors appear-
ed in the field during the closing days of
ISTf) and ran a line to Jackson and from
tJiat point westward. It was generally un-
derstood that the railroad company would
ask a bonus, and on December 28, 1875,
a mass meeting was held at Jackson and
largely attended. It seemed to be the
luianimous desire of those attending that
the people should give a liberal bonus and
furnish the right of way.
Officials of the road went to Jackson
February 27, 1876, and stated that if the
ten townships of the southern half of
the county would issue bonds to an amount
equal to ten per cent of their assessed valu-
ation to aid in the construction of the
road, tlie line would be built to Jackson
by December 31, 1876, and to Worthing-
ton by September 1, 187 7.'' The question
of issuing the bonds was voted iipon at
the regular March township elections.
Petersburg, Wisconsin, Middletown, Des
Moines and Sioux Valley townships re-
turned majorities in favor of the bonds;
Hunter, Minneota, Eost and Round Lake
voted against them ; in Ewington the vote
was a tic. During April special elections
were held in Minneota, Hunter and Ew-
ington, and each of the townships then
"•The bonds to have been issued by the Jack-
son county townships would have amounted to
about $37,000. the assessed valuation of the
townships at that time being: Petersburg,
$34,594; Wisconsin. $3S,47S; Des Moines, $100,749;
Middletown. $40,336; Minneota, $55,314; Hunter
$23,0.S2; Rost, $5,712; Sioux Valley. $33,346;
Round Lake. $9,949; Ewington, $8,68". The
counties of Martin and Noliles were also asked
to vote subsidies.
gave a majority for the bonds. But the
road was not built that year, and the
bonds were not sold. During the summer
the financial affairs of the railroad com-
pany got in a bad way, and the promoters
found themselves unalde to proceed with
the extension.
In tlie northern part of Jackson county,
where grasshopper eggs had been deposit-
ed in 1875, very little grain was sown in
1876, but in the southern townships,
where no eggs had been deposited, the
usual acreage was put in. Late in April
the pests began to hatch, and the hatch-
ing continued until in June. So soon as
they attained sufficient size the young
hoppers attacked the fields. The fanners
drew up in battle array against them, and
many of the pests were destn.iyed. The
ravages were confined to the northern
townships until July 5. Then a gentle
wind from the nortji swept clouds of them
to the other portions of the county, and
every precinct reported damage. There
« a.< no further movement of the hoppers
until July 13. On that date another
breeze from the north gathered immense
numbers of them and wafted them over
the line into Iowa. On July 24 came the
worst visitation of grasshoppers ever
known in Jackson county. Vast clouds
of them came down from the northwest
and destroyed all small grain left and in-
jured the corn. They remained two or
three weeks and deposited tJieir eggs.
It was not until the fore part of August
that the county was entirely free from the
destroying agents. During this time they
feasted continually and deposited their
eggs.
The prospects were discouraging. Many
who had fought the scourge so long gave
up and quit trying to raise crops. The
Jackson Republic voiced the feelings of
the people when it said on July 29 :
Tluit the grassliopper question lias assnm-
154
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
ed a more serious aspeitt lliiiii eviM' before there
is no denying, l-'our successive crops liav.'
been destroyed in a good portion of southwest-
ern .Minnesota and the lifth assured of destruc-
tion. It is useless to recapituhite tlie trials
our jjcople liave passed through, or tell how
patiently they have waited with the vain hope
that the pest would leave us finever; it is use-
less to theorize or moralize on the past — it is
the dark future witii which we have to deal
and most interests our stricken people. \Vc
know that our crops have been nearly all
destroyed and that eggs are deposited in every
direction sufficient to hatch grasshoppers an-
other year to co\er every inch of ground in the
county, and that is all that need be said on
that point.
Mauy did not give up, liowever, but re-
newed the fight. A mass convention was
called to be held at Jackson August 23,'*
to "have a general interchange of ideas
as to the best policy to pursue in our pres-
ent unfortunate circumstances caused by
the ravages of grasshoppers." The con-
vention adopted the following resolutions:
Resolved that the state and general gov-
ernments be petitioned to make appropriations
to reimburse us for money expended to pre-
vent prairie grass from burning and in catch-
ing young hoppers in the spring.
Kesolved that the county commissioners be
requested to make an appropriation not ex-
ceeding $1,000 for the purpose of making a
fire guard suiricient to preserve the grass in
each town.
Kesolved further that a committee be ap-
jiointed to correspond with the governor and
with parties in other counties to the end that
a general organization be had for the purpose
mentioned in the above resolutions.
Kesolved that we reconinu'nd a general con-
vention for the grasshopper district be held at
Worthington at nji early day. to be called by
the governor of the stale, who is hereby in-
vited to be present.
In accordance witii the .suggestion of
the Jackson county convention, a grass-
"The call was signed by A. D. Palmer. W. V.
King, J. J. Johnson, Ilrnry Knudson. Edward
Orr, Dr. E. L. BrowiicH. Ira G. Waldin, Jareb
Palmer, G. C. Chamberlln. J. W. Cowliig. G. K.
TIlTany, Lucius HordwcU. \V. Kiirrcson. \V.
Ashley. Euneiie I.okuc. Thomas J. Knox. C. II.
Sun('../n. M. A. StrouB, .lames \V. Hunter. John
J. Smith. William A. Kl.lds. James E. Palmer,
II. A. Williams, .\kxaiul.r Fitkles. iMIUnn Ma.son
and John Juiigbaucr. The mass ronventlim
was called largely through the elTorts of Cap-
tain Jarel) Palmer. Me and several others
were In the office of the county auditor one
day, discussing conditions, when he suggesttd
holding n convention to discuss ways and means
of overcoming the pests. A petition was (Jrawn
up by County Auditor William V. King and was
circulated by Mr. Palmer.
hopper convention, containing delegates
from all the devastated counties of south-
western Minnesota, met at Worthington
September 20, 187G. Methods of light-
ing the common enemv were discussed and
jilans made for reducing the ravages, lie-
lief from the United States government
was asked.
The legislature of 1877 approi)riated
money for the relief of the destitute and
$75,000 for the purchase of seed grain,
'i'hc law provided for the repayment of
this money by those receiving the grain;
in case it was not paid back the county
was bound to make payment to the state.
Applicants were obliged to furnish affi-
davits as to their condition, and the coun-
ty commissioners and county auditor acted
as a board to determine the worthiness of
the ai)plicants. Two hundred eleven ap-
plications were granted in Jackson county
and thirty rejected. From LaCrosse
township came 31 ajiplications — the
largest number from any one township.
There was none from Hunter. On March
29, 1877, the county auditor received a
check for $4,431 — Jackson county's share
of the appropriation — and this was dis-
tributed in grain, giving $21 worth to
each successful applicant.
Every plan to rid the st«tc of the lo-
cu.<ts having failed. Governor John S.
rill.-^hury named a day for fasting and
prayer, and by proclamation requested
every citizen to observe Thursday, April
2(i, as a day on which to hold religious
meetings and ask for deliverance from
the scourge. In Jackson the day was aj)-
])ropriately observed, the Kcpublic report-
ing the services as follows:
Fast day (Thursday, April '2t!) w-as duly ob-
served in town by a general recognition of the
governor's proclamation. In the forenoon quil«
a large congregation assembled at the church,
where the services were conducted by Rev. K.
Savage.
. In the afternoon there was an in-
teresting social meeting at the church, in
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
loo
which many of our leading Christian citizens
participated, and wliicli was attended by a large
number who ought to be Christians. Certainly
the governor's fast day was well observed in
Jackson by our business men not only, but by
our citizens generally. Two large congregations
were present, many of whom are seldom seen
inside the church.
The annual dread was felt again in the
.spring of 1877 — and this time the set-
tlers were agreeably disappointed. The
reason was admirably adapted to two
ends: the best possible development of
small grain and the worst possible develop-
ment of the locusts. The cool rainy weath-
er of the spring and early summer seem-
ed to have been sent on purpose to give
wheat and other small grain a rapid and
healthy growth, and at the same time
give the grasshopper:- a slow and feeble
development.
The hoppers hatched during the month
of May and began eating on a few fields,
but not enough to do any great damage.
The farmers early commenced fighting
their enemy witli kerosene oil and the tar
"hopperdozers." But the most satisfac- ,
tory destroying element proved to be a
little red parasite, which attacked and
destroyed the eggs in the fall and early
spring and later the young hoppers, load-
ing down their frail wings and carcasses
until it was almost impossible for them
to fly. Bushels of the pests died as soon
as their wings were grown.
Early in June the press reported little
damage to small grain, Imt that the corn
was suffering to some extent. Cool weath-
er continued until the middle of June,
having the effect of keeping the hoppers
quiet and off the fiekls. Said the Republic
on June IG : "Many people begin to
take courage and actually are hopeful of
a part of a crop." In the latter jDart of
June the grasshoppers became more ac-
tive and did some injury to small grain,
they having confined themselves almost
e.xolusively to corn and garden truck be-
fore. But about the first of July they be-
gan taking their departure, flying gener-
ally to the northwest, and within a few
days all had left the county. None but
tlie Jackson county hatch had visited the
county, and it became apparent that un-
less there was a raid of "foreign" hoppers,
the bulk of the crop was safe. And the
invaders did not come. Swarms of them
were occasionally seen flying high in the
air afterwards^ but they did not alight.
The cheering situation was reported by
the local press on July 21 :
Certainly the situation about us is cheer-
ing. The grasshoppers have gone, and there is
a feeling apparent that they have left us
permanently. Crops are in the main good. We
do not think there are a half dozen farmers in
the county who have lost their crops during
the season, though of course more than that
n\unber liave been damaged more or less. But
generally wheat, oats, barlej-, peas and pota-
toes are looking well, but corn is backward.
. It is truly encouraging to have such
cheering reports come in from the farmers and
we gladly make note of their success.
It was a year of jubilee. Every resi-
dent seemed to be imbued with new life.
Business men began increasing their
stocks of goods ; farmers began getting
their lands in readiness for the ne.xt year's
crop and putting up hay for the increa.sed
herds of stock that grasshopper times com-
pelled.
Yet conditions were not so rosy as one
might imagine. The several years of dev-
astation had discouraged the farmers of
Jackson county to such an extent that
each year saw less and less grain sown.
The spring of 1877 witnessed the planting
of a very limited acreage, and the com-
paratively big yield per acre did not re-
sult in the bountiful times that would
liave come had the fanners sown as in
former years.
Of the sixty-one counties Minnesota
contained at that time, Jackson ranked
thirteenth in the yield of wheat per acre.
Sixteen hundred forty-one acres were
156
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
sown ; 33,208 bushels, or 20.22 bushels per
acre, were harvested. In tlif production
of oats tlie county ranked lourtli, being
surpassed only by Goodhue, Polk and
Steele counties. The total yield of oats
was G6,00.") bushel.*, or -13.33 bushels per
acre. The corn crop amounted to 7T,G23
bushels, or 19. G3 bushels per acre.
Because of tlie bettered condition, in
the fall of 1877, a lew land seekers— tlie
first in five years — caiiu' to the county to
spy out and purchase choice tracts of land.
A seed grain appro])nation was again
made in 1878, and Jackson county ])cople
received 1,575 bushels.'"
So far as Jackson county is concerned
the terrible grasshopper scourge was prac-
tically ended. In its whole liistory up to
tliis time there had been only a few years
when the county had been free from
"NeighboriiiK coimtfcs recpived .seed grain In
biishoLs as fullow.s: Cottonwood. 4,600; Waton-
wan. 2,7!t0; Martin. 2.300; Nobles. 3.44.'i; .Mur-
rav. 800.
sources of devastation. For years the
savage red man laid a heavy hand on the
county and retarded its settlement; for
anotlier period of years the grasshoppers
])erformed a like service. Hundreds of
good citizens had been forced to leave;
otlier hundreds had been prevented from
coming.
The condition of tiie county at the close
of the year 1877 has been told l)y a gentle-
man who made a trip over tlie Sioux City
& St. Paul railroad in November, lie said:
The coiiiitry {lives eviilence of tlie sad elFeets
of tlie ;;rasslio|>per [ilafjiie in Hie llioiisiinils of
acres ol laiiil tliat liave oiiee been broken anil
perliajis a crop or two taken from tlieni. Tlic
owners have left them to {jrow up to weeds,
not daring to risk tlie ehanees of liarvestin};
their ero|)s. Xothing so foreilily brinjis to thi'
minil of the visitor the reality of the {{rassliop-
per seourj;e as the sijiht of these desolate,
weed-grown fields, with oeeasionally a deserted
home standing cheerless and lone in tin' midst
of the broad prairies.
Tlie lii.slory of Jackson cmintyV dark
days are ended, llenceforlh the story is
one of advancement.
CHAPTER XII.
PROSPEROUS TIMES— 1878-1894.
A
NEW era iu the history of Jack-
son coimly begins with the year
1878. Three events of that year
II. ark the turning point to better times:
the disajjpearance of the grasshoppers, the
building of the county's second railroad,
and the revival of immigration.
It will l)e remembered that so early as
18(j6 preparations had been made for e.x-
tonding the Southern ilinne^ota railroad
from Houston to the west line of the state.
The United States government had
granted large areas of land to the state of
Minnesota to aid in the construction of
railroads, and the state had in turn given
these lands to the Southern Minnesota
Railroad company, m consideration that
it should e.xtend its road to the west line
of the state on or before February 2-5,
1877. Owing to financial embarrassment
and the terrilile gras.shopper scourge, the
railroad company had not been able to
complete its line, although it had buildcd
a considerable distance to tlic westward,
and many of the lands were about to re-
vert to the state as forfeiture for non-
compliance with llie terms of the grant.
For many long years the people of south-
ern Jackson county had anxiously awaited
the coming of this road, which meant so
much to them.^
^■"Every now and then surveynr.s of railroads
have come and gone, railroad officials from dif-
The road was built to Winnebago City,
and late in 1877 u was announced that
the companv had sufficient funds and the
inclination to extend the road 45 miles
further, to Jackson, providing the lapsed
land grant were renewed. N^early every-
body was in favor of renewing the grant,
and on March 6, 1878, the Minnesota leg-
islature, in a memorial to congress, asked
for a four years' extension of the grant. -
The sentiment of the people of Jackson
countv is shown bv the following' resolu-
ferent lines have eoaie and made propositions
to supply us a road, and they would go. Thus
tile long years have rolled away, and our little
town and struggling community have survived
without a road, our merchants have hauled in
their goods on wheels, slow coaches have
brought our mails and transported passengers
and express packages." — George C. Chamberlin
in Republic. November 30. 1878.
=" . . . That if said grant is extended
to this state for the purposes aforesaid, this
state will be able to secure the speedy construc-
tion of said entire line of railroad, and thereby
meet the just expectations of the settlers who
have purciiased said even numbered sections,
and afford to the people of the counties of
Martin. Jackson. Nobles. Murray and Pipestone
the means of transportation from the large and
increasing products of their industry.
"Wherefore your memorialists respectfully
urge upon congress an extension of said grant
for four years to the state, and not to such de-
faulting company or any other railroad com-
pany, to the end that the speedy construction
of said entire line of road may be assured; and
we hereby urgently request our senators and
representatives in congress under no circum-
stances to permit any extension of said grant
to be made which does not vest the .same in
the state of Minnesota, with full authority to
convey the same to such company as it may
see fit. subject to such conditions as it may
desire to impose, consistent with the objects of
the original grant." — Extract from Memorial to
Congress, March 6, 1878.
157
158
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
lion, whicli was adopted at a mass meet-
ing lield at Jackson January 26, 1878:
Resolved tliat it is tlio sense of this niccl-
iiiff that an act he passed eoiitinuin;; tlie
Soutliern .Minnesota liailroad land prant with
said roati or its aiixili:>ry, the "Southern Min-
nesota Kxtension company.' and tliat our deh'-
pation in the legislature he rei|uested to favor
said act and urpe its passage during the present
session, provided that said road he built to the
village of Jackson by the first of January, 1879.
The legislature took the action which
seemed to be desired by the people of
southwestern Minnesota, and on Marcli C,
1878, passed an act transferring and
granting the lands to the Southern Min-
nesota Railroad Extension company, on
condition that tlie line of road be com-
pleted to Fairmont before September 1,
1878, to Jackson before tl)e close of the
year 1879, and to the west line of the state
before the close of the year 1880,
/ Construction was begun at once. The
company still asked a bonus from Jackson
county, and at a railroad meeting held at
Jackson, called at the instance of J, C.
Easton, president of the Southern Minne-
sota, it was the sense of those present that
the township of Des Moines should vote
bonds to an amount of ten per cent of the
assessed valuation, provided the road
should be in operation and the Jackson
depot built that season. The line was ex-
tended to Jackson without the aid of
bonds, however. The road was completed
to Fairmont and train service established
on July 1. The construction work pro-
gressed rapidly, and on November 27,
1878, the iron horse reached Jackson,
tiiereby causing great rejoicing. Jackson
was the terminus until the next year,
when it was extended to the northwest.
A countr}' into which it is known a
railroad is to be built is always a goal for
immigrants. Tlie belief that Ihe grass-
hopper scourge was a thing of the past
also added to the inpouring of new set-
tlers. Early in March the immigrants be-
gan arriving, looking for land, and they
continued to pour in during the whole
.sj)ring and summer.' As a general thing
the newcomers were a well-to-do class.
They came, not to take homesteads, but
to purciuise land and make improvements.
Owing to the removal of so many settlers
during the grasshopper jears, there was
much land on the market at reasonable
prices, and all were given opportunity to
become permanent settlers. Thousands
of acres of wheat and other grain were
sown that spring. Tlie old sod shanties
were replaced by frame structures, and in
other ways the advancement was marked.
Not only in the southeastern ])art of
the county was the revival noticed, but
all parts of tlie county responded tn the
changed conditions. .\ gentleman writing
from Heron Lake in April said :
The amount <if freiglit received al this depot
is surprising. Car load after car load continues
to come, and there seems to be no end of it.
Old settlers as well as new are coming and
shipping in their lioiisehold goods, and mer-
chants are receiving freight almost daily. Al-
together it makes business lively around the
depot every time the eastern freight comes in.
Although grasshoppers in diminished
numbers visited Nobles county and some
iither portions of southwestern Minnesota
ill 1S7S, Jackson county was free from
ilierii. But the county was not destined
to harvest the mammoth crop to which
it was entitled. Two weeks of excessive
liot weather in the first half of July, fol-
lowed by a week of excessive rains, injured
the wheat crop so that the yield was not
up to expectations. Some fields yielded
an ordinary crop, but ntliors fell as low
as a half crop.
More railroad building in 1S79 added
to the activities and prosperity of Jack-
■son county. From the first it had been
till' intention of the Southern ^Minnesota
'■'Still Ihe.v come — new men hunllnR new
homes. We see new faces all around us until
we l)ej;rhi to feel as thntiK:h we had got away
from home." — Republic, March 30, 1878.
HISTOEY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
159
Railroad company (now the Chicago, Mil-
waukee & St. Paul) to extend the line due
west from Jackson to the state line, pass-
ing through the village of Worthingtou/
l)ut early in the spring of ISTO the plan.s
were changed and the line run to the
northwest, diagonally across the county.
The survey was made, the point of cross-
ing the Sionx City road designated as the
southwest quarter of section 3-5, LaCrosse
township (Miloma), and on April 22
work on the extension from Jackson was
begun. Tracklaying was completed to
the junction on August 1, and regular
train service was begun to Fulda IvTovem-
ber 3. As a result of the extension many
new settlers located in the central and
western parts of the county and the vil-
lage of Lakefield was founded.
Tlio Sioux City & St. Paul Eailroad
company resented the encroachment on
what it considered its own territory by
the extension of the Southern Minnesota
to the northwest. In an effort to head off
the Southern Minnesota, the Sioux City
road, in May, made a hurried survey for
a branch line from Heron Lake to Pipe-
stone, paralleling the survey of the
other road. Then began a lively race
in construction. Side by side the con-
struction crews of the two roads worked.
At times violence was narrowly averted
between the workmen, so bitter had be-
come the strife between the two companies.
It was admitted that it was a cut-throat
policy to continue the building of the par-
allel roads, but neither would give in.
'"It is stiU a question nt doubt wliere tlie
Snutiiern Minnesota railroad will cross the
Sioux City road, and we understand the com-
pany itself is undecided upon this point. The
officers are already discussing the question
and investigating- the 'lay of the land." We are
quite certain it is the desire of the company to
cross at W'orthington. and if engineering olj-
stacles do not intervene we are inclined to
think that will he the point; then the road will
strike a due northwest course for Pipestone
county."— Republic, June S. 1S7S.
liate in May a conference was held in St.
Paul between representatives of the Mil-
waukee and Sioux City & St. Paul in-
terests, when an attempt was made to
come to an under.~tanding and to recon-
cile differences. The conference served
only to make matters worse, and the work
of construction on both roads was rushed
to completion. Kot only did they run
their roads side by side; they laid out
their towns almost within a stone's throw
of each other.
During this activity in railroad build-
ing the village of Heron Lake and its sur-
rounding territory advanced with rapid
strides. Being guaranteed ample rail-
road facilities and good markets, people
improved many farms whicli had there-
tofore been unbroken.
In the extreme northwest corner of the
county grasshoppers did some little dam-
age in 1879 but other parts were entirely
free from the p&sts. About the middle of
July they departed, never to appear again ;
grasshoppers had eaten their last Jackson
county grain. While grasshoppers, hail
and storms fortunately passed the county
by, crops were only fair. In some locali-
ties wheat was blighted ; corn and oats
were good.
The federal census of 1880 gave Jack-
son county a population of 4,80(>,'' a gain
of 1,300 in five years. Of the total popu-
lation, 2,920 were native born, while 1,886
were foreign born." The population was
divided by precincts as follows:
^Population of other southwestern Minnesota
counties: Blue Earth. 22.889; Faribault. 13.016;
Watonwan. 5.104; Mai-tin. 5.249; Cottonwood.
5.533; Murray. 3.604; Nobles. 4,435; Pipestone,
2.092; Rock, 3,669.
"Of the native born the classification by
principal states of birth was as follows: Min-
nesota, 1,703; Wisconsin, 352; New York, 275;
Illinois, 94; Penn.sylvania, 82; Ohio, 79. The
countries which furnished the bulk of the for-
eign population were as follows: Sweden and
Norway. l.nS4; Germany. 186; British .A.merica,
89; England and Wales, 52; Ireland, 40; Scot-
land, 21; France, 4.
160 HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
A'bft ■ 130 county in October. All day Saturday the
Belmont 36!) , ,. •, , ^ , ,, ,,
I'liristiaiiia 433 ''lizzanl raged; Sunday the weather was
DilaiicM 32.'> calmer, but cold and wintry. When the
Kiitcrprise 17!) •-lori" subsided great drifts of snow filled
Kwintjtiiii 88 the roads and other places, which did not
lie™! Lake village' ::;:".::: :'.■.:::::::::: ml 'ii««prea'- ""t'l the following May. ah
Hunter ■ 80 .Tack.^on county railroads were blockaded,
/'i'fwl .^-^ nu'l the Sioux City road did not get a
l.*Il\. 1 OSt'P .....................0(0 *
Middlftown 154 train through until Tuesday, the 19th.
l^''""<'f-' 119 Stock in different iiarts of tlie county be-
rctersbiug 243 '
Rost 124 came lost and frozen.
Round Lake 110 p^j. ^ j,^qj,j.,^ .jj^p,. j,,g ■^^■^^^^ gi^,.„^_
Sioux \ alley 8!)
Weimer . . ." 2!)0 n'cc weather preyailcd ; then winter set
West Heron Lake 90 j„ ]„ earnest, and from that time until
W iseonsin 157
Jackson .TOi late in A])ri], it was winter every minute
; of the time. Friday, November 19, a cold
snap set in, and on the night of the 20th
Jackson county harvested an excellent the thermometer went to 10 degrees below
crop in 1880, siilTicient in many cases to zero. .\ blizzard struck the country De-
clear up the debts contracted during grass- ceniber 3, which blockaded the Sioux City
hopper days. More No. 1 wheat was liar- railroad from the east until the 5th. An-
vested in southern T^Iinnesota that year otiier blizzard began Sunday noon, Deceni-
than had ever been the case before. The ber 26, and continued its boisterous ways
days of adversity l)ecame but a memory: until Wednesday night. Cold weather
the prospects were bright, indeed. accompanied the .storm, the thermometer
One of the dates fi'om which time is during the three days ranging from 10 to
reckoned in Jackson county is the win- "'-1 degrees below zero. The Sioux City
ter of 1880-81 — the season of Siberian Milwaukee was closed until January 3.
frigidity. There have been worse slorm.i road was blockaded until the .30th ; the
than any that occurnd that winter; for Time hundred men and a half dozen en-
short periods of time Uierc has lieen cold- gines were required to break (lie 'Milwau-
er weather. Rut tiieie never was a Avinter kee blockade.
to compare wilji tjiis (,iu' in duration, con- Thereafter tlie winter was an extreme-
linued severity, depth of .snow and dam- ly severe one, the thermometer frei|uently
age to property — possibly excepting those registering .'?0 to 3o degrees below the zero
of 1856-57 and 1872-7:!. jy.avk. Rlizzard followed blizzard. The
While the gra.ss was yet green and the railroads were clo.^ctl for weeks at a time,
insect world active, winter .set in. On the Fuel and food became nearly exhausted,
afternoon of Friday, October 15, ISSO, a People burned hay and grain and went
heavy thunder storm began. During the without lights. In some places there was
night a strong, chilling wind came down fufTering for lack of food. Wagon roads
from the north, turning the rain into a remained iinbroken all winter, and the
fine snow. A severe blizzard then took farmers obtained their supplies from the
the place of the rain, and winter weather villages by means of hand sleds,
continued three days. It was the first Following is the story of the winter,
and only blizzard ever experienced in the told in brief chronological order, from the
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
161
lieginning of tlie year 18S1 until the
biL'akup in the spring:
January '■). Milwaukee road opened.
January 4. Eain.
January •">. Terrific blizzard. ;\lil\vau-
kcc Idiickailed.
Jaiiuar\- IS. ^Mihyaukce road cleared."
January liJ. Snow storm. Milwaukee
blockaded. -
January 31. Snovv istorni. Sioux City
road tied up till the 23rd.
.lanuary 20. Blizzard. All trains
stopped.
January 29. La.sc train <>i the winter
(jyer the ililwaukee.
P'ebruary 1. Sioux City road tied up.
Weather changeable — from one stormy
day to one a little more stormy.
February 3. Longest snow storm of
season begins, coming from the southeast
and lasting four days. Fifteen days'
I'lockade on Sioux City road begins. Mil-
waukee road buried from AVells to Dell
I'apids.^
'"Last Tui?.sday night fJanuary IS], blockade
No. 3 was effectual^' and expensively removed.
Hundreds of men were employed in the work,
thousands of doUars were spent, and almost
the entire enginery of the road was on the
snowy field of battle against the blizzards. The
prospects were again encouraging for a resump-
tion of work along the line." — Republic, Janu-
ary 22. 18S1.
'"Wednesday night. [January 19] the trouble
began again, and drifts upon drifts once more
enveloped the railroad. The state of affairs is
indeed discouraging. The company had re-
solved to hasten forward the tons of delayed
freight as rapidly as possible, and five heavily
loaded freight trains put in an appearance at
this point within one day after the blockade
had been lifted. The earliest train left Jack-
son for the west at about eight o'clock Wed-
nesday evening, the 19th, but a drift about one
mile west of tile bridge prevented further prog-
ress. Three trains followed in rapid succes-
sion, but were unable to move the one ahead
or back down to the station, and at this writ-
ing, Friday night [January 21], are wedged in
!iorth of town, with a fair prospect of staying
there for several days. .\nother freight and
one passenger train are laid up at the Jackson
depot and two passeuger trains are at Fulda.
Fortunately, through the indefatigable en-
ergy of the hardy knights of the throttle, all
of these snow bound iron horses are yet alive
and snorting." — Republic, January 22, 1881.
""The storm which commenced on Thursdav
of last week [February 3] and continued with
scarcely an intermission until last Monday came
from the southeast — blinding in its fury, pow-
erful in windy force, and awful in its aspect —
but, thank heaven! lacking the one element
which would have made it terribly and, perhaps,
February 8. Lakefield short of pro-
visions.
February 11. One of the worst bliz-
zards of the season begins. Lasts two
days.
February 12. ]\Iany farmers reported
out of fuel.'"
February 16. First train from the
east in fifteen days reaches Heron Lake.
February 18. Blizzard. Last eastern
train reaches Heron Lake.
February 32. Snow storm.
March 1. Mild weather for two days.
March 4. Fierce lilizzard all day."
]\rarcli .J. Fair weather, lasting five
days. Sioux City road opened except be-
tween St. James and Windom.'-
^larch 11. Terrible l)lizzard, lasting
two days, coming from the east. Heaviest
snowfall of the season. All railroads
blockaded worse than eyer.
to some of God's creatures, fatally complete.
The storm was one of miraculous warmth, and
throughout its dreary prevalence the thermome-
ter did not register below 20 degrees above zero.
"During those three days the fall of snow-
was the heaviest ever known in this section
of the state. It swooped down in vast clonds
which fairly darkened the air and blanketed
the level of the earth to a depth of nearly two
feet- Drifts almost mountainous in size sprang
up like mushrooms o\er fences .and groves,
stables and stacks, rail and wagon roads, com-
pletely suspending all travel across the prairies.
"On Monday [Februarv 7] a sudden halt was
called on the elements, and then followed four
days of warm pleasant weather, beautified with
occasional glim))ses of Old Sol's smiling face,
and the universal prophesy was that there had
come a jiermanent 'let-up.' " — Republic, Feb-
ruary 12, ISSl.
'""Scores of prairie fei'mers are known to be
without fuel, and the present storm will drive
them to dire extremities to protect their fami-
lies from the cold. It is a bad — a terrible — state
of affairs and is made worse by the fact that
it is impossible to send help to the needv." —
Republic, February 12. ISSl.
""As we go to press on^ Fridav [March 4]
the elements are actively "engaged in getting
up the biggest blizzard of the year. The air
is thick with snow and the wind is blowing a
perfect gale. Of such things as these are bliz-
zards made, and so well developed is this one
that at times it is impossible to see across
the streets of the village, so dense are the
clouds of snow." — Republic, March 5, 1881.
"The depth of snow was very great. It was
estimated that the average depth in the cuts
on tlie Milwaukee line between Jackson and
Fulda was ten feet. During the w'inter the
Minneapolis Tribune printed letters from Heron
Lake correspondents, telling of the wonderful
depth of snow. One said it would be impos-
silile to give an idea of the appearance of the
prairie country except by imagining that the
ocean, when lashed by a terrible tempest.
1«2
HISTORY OF JACKSOX COUNTY.
March 10. ^lihvaiikec opened east of
Fairmont.
ilarch 30. Siou.x City line clear east
of Wortliinfiton antl first train in six weeks
(laikinii; two davs) readies Heron Lake.
March 31. Storm. Three hundred
sliovolers attack drifts on the Milwaukee.
.Vjiril 1. Milwaukee road open.
.\[)ril 5. First train from Sioux Citv
arrives. Carries letters dated February
21. Road open three days.
A])ril T. Fuel and food staples meafrcr
at Heron Lake. Reports only one train
in five weeks.
-Vpril R. Siiiiw. .\11 inilroads again
l>lockadod.
.\pril 11. ^loiv snow.
April 1?. North wind drifts snow and
completely fills railroads.
April 13. Theniiometer registers zero.
■ April 16. Train roaches Heron Lake
from the east.
April 17. Sioux City road opened
whole length. First freight train in elev-
en weeks ilelivers fieiglit at Heron Lake.
Milwaukee road opens and freight is re-
ceived at Jackson and Lakefield."
For a few days there was fairly regu-
lar trafi'ic on the railroads. Then came
the floods, caused by the melting snow,
and traffic was again suspended. For ten
days not a train ran over the Sioux City
& St. Paul road and it was May 2 before
regular train service was established. Near-
ly 1,000 feet of the :Milwaukcc track was
swept away by Okabena creek, but the Des
could be suddenl.v congealed — waves, breakers
and llyInK .spray — and hold white and Icy. The
same writer said that a Bro\ e of trees near hi;-
place (the trees being nearly 'J5 feet high) was
completely covered by a Kri'at snow drift, which
was so heavily crusted that his children coastea
down the drift and had high frolics over the
burled trees. Another correspondent told of
houses along the Des Moines river being bm-ied
In snow so that the occupants had to cut holi'S
in the roof for Ingress and egress.
'^"Freight is plenty now. Merchants have
been out of nearly all kinds of supplies. At one
time they were out of oil. candles, sugar, soap
and many more useful articles. It has been
almost Impossible to get meat." — I.Akefleld Cor-
respondent, April 23. 1881.
Moines river bridge stood the test, and
train service was established after a few
days.
The Des Moines river suddenly became
a raging torrent, leaped out of its banks,
and inundated and destroyed valuable
property. The river began to rise Sun-
day, April 17, and continued to increase
iu volume until Saturday, April 23, when
it was 24 feet above low water mark —
the highiest point in its history. It left
its channel to sweep over meadows ami
fields, covering with a terrific current
nearly one-half the valley, and in some
places lapping the very foothills a quarter
of a mile from its former bed.
The greatest damage was done in the
village of Jackson. The 100-foot iron
span bridge that hai! been erected two
years before at a cost of $2,000 was brok-
en from its mooring on the night of the
21st by the immense cakes of ice that were
battered against it. It was reduced to a
mass of broken timbers and bent steel.
Imt was rescued and anchored in the south
part of town. .\ wild waste of raging
water lapped the very dooryards in the
eastern part of the village. Several houses
had to he vacated, and many barns were en-
t'\w]\- fioodcil. Coliiiiiirs hinilier yard was
iu many places covered with eight feet of
water, and hard work was done to save the
stock. Paul's liiiiihcr yard was also dam-
aged with water t>> some extent. On Sat-
urday and Sunday Jackson hail the aji-
pearance of a lumbering camp. Thirty or
more men were engaged at the bayou haul-
ing out luml)er and jiiling it on shore.
Bridges at Brownsburg, Okabena :in(l
in Sioux Valley were carried away by
the railing waters. Skinner's mill was al-
so harmed to some extent. Otherwise the
damage caused by the floods was not great ;
there were a few losses in Jackson, be-
sides those mentioned, of a few hundred
dollars each.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
16a
An average crop was raised in 1881,
anil tlie fanners were placed in better con-
dition that they had been, perhaps, at any
previous time in the county's history.
I'rii-cs ranged good and there was a mar-
ket for everything i-aised.
'.riie last built railroad to touch Jack-
sun county soil was the Burlington, Ce-
dar liapids & Northern (now the Chicago,
liock Island & Pacific), which was builded
from Spirit Lake to Worthingtou during
the summer of 1882, the road reaching
A\'orthington Octolier T. The road passes
thriiugli the extreme southwestern corner
of the county, only about four miles being
in Jackson county.
There was a health}- increase in popu-
lation during 18S'2. There was no rush,
such as characterized the early seventies,
but each week during the spring and sum-
mer months witnessed the arrival of a few
settlers. A county immigration associa-
tion was formed in the spring, which set
forth the advantages of the county in
printed matter and resulted in bringing a
few new settlers. The 1882 crops was a
good one, and all parts of the county en-
joyed prosper Dus limes. Thirty-six hun-
dred sexenty-six acres were sown to wheat
that year, from which were harvested 46,-
3G1 bushels, an average of twelve and two-
thirds bushels per acre. Sixty-five hun-
dred seventy-four acres were planted to
corn.
Another death in the winter storms —
the first since the fatalities of 1872 — oc-
curred in Wisconsin iownship January 19,
1883. The victim was Henry Curti.s, an
aged man who made his home with Mrs.
Miles Lindsley. He was proceeding home
from John K. Johnson's place, three-quar-
ters of a mile distant, when he evidently-
became fatigued, and, lying down to rest,
was overcome by the cold and perished.
Scores of land buyers visited Jackson
county in the fall of 1883, and invested
and became permanent residents. Crops
were good. Corn was slightly injured by
an early frost, but small grain and vege-
tables yielded abundantly. According to
the official returns, the cereal acreage for
1883 was as follows: Wheat, 5,009; corn,
.■").043; oats, 0,977-; barley. 1,4.52; flax,
4,2G2.
In the whole history of Jackson county,
up to tlie late nineties, there never was
such a year for advancement as 1884. It
was a jubilee year. Several causes added
to the effect. Principal among them was
the rapid settlement caused' by throwing
on the market the railroad lands and other
lands withdrawn from settlement in 1866.
There can be no doubt this boom would
have occurred years before and the coun-
ty become thickly settled and divided into
small farms had these lands been available.
The lands were placed on the market at a
reasonable price, considering their eligible
location and the richness of the soil. The
Jackson Eepublic of August 15, 1884,
told of the changed conditions :
Land is no lonsjer a drug in the market but
is rapidly rising in value and .is passing from
tlie ownersliip of tlie state and of railroad com-
panies into tlie hands of hundreds of settlers;
farms are no longer deserted, but new estates
are lieing opened in every township: people are
not leaving — they are locating in this county
daily and by the score: liig crops are the result
of better farming by encouraged farmers;
thousands of cattle and sheep graze on the
])rairies, and nearly every farmer yearly sells
enough fat stock of some kind to give him
plenty of cash ; mortgages are lieing lifted from
the farm and new houses and barns built there-
on ; creameries and hay presses are returning
splendid profits to the farmers from sources
which have hitherto yielded them little or noth-
ing; beautiful groves surround their homes and
diversify the surface of a once unbroken prairie.
The rush for the newly opened lands
of Jackson county began early in the
spring, the buyers spreading out into every
township. Cto where one might, one found
farms, once deserted on account of n-iisfor-
tunes, showing fresh furrows, found smoke
arising from chimneys of new houses,
164
HISTdUY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
found landseekers spying out clioice pieces
of land. Sioux Yallev to\vnslii]i, wliitli
bad been one of tbo least densely popula-
ted townsbips, was especially fortunate in
securing .settlers; the township became
rapidly settled witli progressive German
families. Very little of the land passed
into tbo hands of speculators; nearly all
buyers were farmers who at once took pos-
session and made improvements. As a
writer of tlie time expressed it: "The
growth of Jackson county this year is
ba.sed upon the healthful pulsations of nat-
ural and genuine merit and appreciated re-
sources. Tt is a hearty bloom of vigorous
youtli. not a feverish bloom of fickle spec-
ulMtioii. It has romo in stay."
Adding to the [irevailing prosperity
was an enormous crop, wliich commanded
a big price. It had hccn fnuiid that ex-
clusive wheal f:;rniii;g ckuIiI nut he de-
pended upon, aiKi farmers had turned
iheir attention largi ly to the raising of
flax, hay and livestock. Flax growing be-
cnme <me of the big industries, and it
yiel(k^d a liig jn-ofit in this year nf jnliilce.
Hay also ruled liigli in price, and large
quantities were put up. Hundreds of car
loads of flax. Jiay and livestock were ex-
ported during tbo ycai."
The rusli of landsr(kers continued dur-
ing tiic rid! months, and the land agents
were kept bu.M- until wiiiler piloting pros-
pective buyers over the count v.'"' Over
TO.OOO acres of land, ciiuivalent to more
than three full townsliijis, were juii ^n
tlie tax rolls for the lirst time in l.ssi.
The 70,000 acres of added lands were di-
vided as follows:
"The acreage sown In 1884 was as follows:
WTieat. 4.81B; corn. 3..S4S; oats. 8.546; barley.
a.asi; nax, 7.241.
''W. T. Hansen, of Chicago, became the own-
f'l' of larKP tract.<< of Jack.son county land, and
the bulk of the sales in 1SS4 wore made by him
through his agent. G. A. Albcrtus.
Acre*.
IntiMiial Improvement hiiuls >iilil :t0.78t;
Sri 1 lands sol.l 0.208
I'inal entries <;overnment lanils 4,085
SI. Paul i ('liiia}.'o l!y. hunls ileeded 80
Soutliern Minnesota Uy. lands deeded.. 2,681
St. I'aul & Sioux City lly. lands deeded. .21. :124
Sioux City & St. Puil Ky. lands deeiled. , 104
Southern Minnesota Ky. eontraeted lands 1.080
St. Paul & Cliieago contracted land- 40
Total
Tii.iits
The icsults of prosperous times were
seen in building iinproveintnts in all parts
of the county and in tlie prompt payment
of debts. The fanners were at last firmly
nil their feet, and the high mad to wealth
was henccfortli open. The recovery from
the grassho|)per scourge was almost com-
)il(te. In Di'ceiniH'r, lf<8-l, the Jack.son
liepublic said of the )irogress during the
twelve-month just closing: "The year
ISSI is dying. Let it pass away honored
and beloved by the people of Jackson
enmity. It has liroiight them more peace,
prnsperily and happiness than any cycle
since the county was organized."
In .hily, 1884, came the promise of an-
other railroad. This was the Iowa (.<.• Min-
nesota Nnrtliein. whiih agreed to build a
rnad from some ])nir.l in nnrtliern Iowa to
the village <d' .lacksnii. Secretary Hub-
bel. nf the I. i.V M. N., staled on behalf of
the corporation thai the road would be
liuilt provid4Ml llie Inwnsbips of l'eter,s-
liiirg, ^liddlctown, De.- Moines and \\'\»-
consin would vole the company a bonus of
five per cent of Ihcir a.s.'^e.ssed valuation for
1883, less till- amount of Ibeir indebted-
ness. Tiiis wimld make the amount each
would have In fiiini.-h as follows: Peters-
!niig, $:?,0(lli: :Middletowii. $1,000; Des
.Moines. $9,-200 ; Wisconsin, $1,000. Elec-
tions were held and Ibe bomls voted in
fbrec of the town.shijis. In lies Moines
the bnnds carried. 95 to 3: in Middlcfown.
22 to (i : in Petersburg, 1:5 to '.) ; while they
were defeated in Wisconsin, 50 to .l.'i. For
lack of capital or some other reasni), the
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
165
company failed to carry out its plans, and
nothing more was heard of the road.
The year 188-") was noted for its im-
provements. Those who had purchased
laud in the fall of 1884 built their houses
and began farming the next spring. A
good crop was raised, a.lding to the finan-
cial standing of Jackson county farmers.
The crop statistics for the year were as
follows :
Grain
Acres
Bushels
Average
Wheat
4813
9(113
8748
8259
2338
76,323
317,167
97,561
105,19:-l
5(),03S
15 85
38 40
26 03
12 72
23.96
Oals
Corn
Flax
Barley
Total
28,171
082,277
The populatiuu in 1885 was G,11U, a
gain of 1,30-4 in five years. By precincts
the population was as follows :
Alba 136
Belmont 419
Cliristiania 485
Delafield 401
Des Moines 348
Enterprise 163
Ewington 61
Heron Lake 440
Heroii Lake Village 280
Hunter 216
Jackson 608
Kimball 295
LaCrosse 374
Middletown 281
Minneota 138
Petersburg 358
Round Lake 1.53
Rost 171
Sioux Valley 208
AVeimer 278
West Heron Lake 96
Wisconsin 201
Total 6,110
Prosperous titues continued during the
first half of 1886. During the spring
niontlis many new settlers came and
bought Jackson county farms, the western
part of the county receiving the bulk of
the immigration. The Minnesota Citizen
(Lakefield) said on March 26, 1886:
More settlers are coming in this spring than
any two before. It seems that almost every
freight train brings from two to three car loads
of goods. And the new arrivals are the very
best farmers. A goodly number of them are
from Illinois, and they are bringing with them
good teams, farming implements and consider-
aide money. Load after load of lumber is be-
ing hauled from this place this spring, and the
building boom is liveh'.
The county received a set-back that
fall — the first in a number of years. Ow-
ing to a drought only about a half crop
was raised. Not since the grasshopper
days had the cry of hard times been so
general. In addition to the crop failure,
what was raised had to be offered on a low
market. The cattle and hog market was
also ruinously low.
The first contest for the removal of
the county seat from Jackson to Lakefield
— the beginning of a twenty years contest
for county seat honors — come in 188G. It
was the forerunner of some of the most
bitter contests ever waged for county seat
removal in Minnesota, contests which en-
gendered ill feeling between the people
of the two towns interested and caused
a division between the east and west ends
of the county in many things.
Prior to 188.5 there had been no satis-
factory county scat I'emoval law on the
ilinnesota statute books. That year, on
March .5, the legislature passed an act
providing that when a majority of the
freeholders who were legal voters and res-
idents of a county shoidd present to the
county commis,sioners a petition asking
for a change in the location of the county
seat it became the duty of the county
board to submit the question at the next
genera] election. If a majority of all
electors voting cast their ballots for re-
moval, the county seat should be moved.
If the question of removal was not decid-
ed in the afi'irmative, the question could
not be voted upon again for five years, and
166
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
if the question should once be decided neg-
atively it rcqiiin'il ii tliieo-liftlis vote to
accomplish a rciiioval at any subsequ'rnt
election.
Soon after the passage oi' this bill the
people of Lakefield began to agitate ihc
niattei" of removal to their town. During
the early eighties the bulk of the immigra-
tion had been to the western part oi ihe
county, and Lakefield. situated almost in
the exact center of the county, had grown
to be a vijlage of considerable importance.
The fust moulion in tlic press of a pos-
sible attempt being made to remove the
county seat was made on duly 31, 1885,
wlicn a writer signing himself "Brutus''
published an article in the Minnesota Citi-
zen (Lakefield), calling upon the people
of the north and west [)arts of the county
to bestir themselves in an attempt to se-
cure the county seat for Lakefield under
the provisions of the now law. Among
other things, "Brutus" said :
Now, you that arc iiitcrestoil in t^akofiold
want to go to Work and organize a socioty tn
put this thing througli, make arrangements
witli yowr lieavy hmdiiM iiers to sceiire tlie eoiin-
ty from loss on buildings, have tlic fool killer
to operate on anyone who proposes an nnder-
haiid measure of any kind. Meet sophistry and
cries of delay with sound reasoning and patient
but determined explanaliim: in due tinu'. when
the question has been thoroughly diseussed and
understood, eireuhite yoiu' petitions and pre-
sent them to the eoniniissioners at their nu>et-
ing next January, showing sueli .a majority in
favor of the ehange that the matter is prae-
tieally settled at once.
From the very earliest days, until the
eighties, Jackson hail been the county's
center of population and business life.
On its townsite the first settlement had
been made, and for years jiractically all
the settled portions of Jackson county
were in close proximity to tluit village.
While in later years the bulk of the set-
tlement had been made in other portions
of the county, Jackson continued to hold
the position of leading town in the county.
Therefore, when removal agitation was
begun the people of Jackson did not be-
come much alarmed. The Republic treat-
ed the matter in a spirit of levity and said
(July 31, 1885) :
The Lakefield Citizen, it is reported, will
eome out this week with a vigorous light in il>
eolumns fur the removal of the »-ouuly seat, and
about 1,000 copies will be circulated througliout
the county. If this is true, the Citizen is cruel
beyond expression of words. What are the
sweltering .lacksonites down in this breathless
valley going to do witli a county seal light on
their hands and the Iheruiomeler 100 in the
shade'; lie merciful, lirother Seely.
Formal action was not taken until the
spring of 1886. On February 20 a meet-
ing was held at Lakefield, at which it was
decided to try for the honor. On. March
9 the townships of Hunter and Heron
Lake, in which the then unincorporated
village of Lakefield was located, each voted
to issue and donate $1,000 bonds to aid in
the construction of a court house at Lake-
field, the same proposition being lost in
Rost township by a vote of IT to 10. The
Citizen of March 12 reported that the
owner of the Lakefield townsite olfered to
donate $3,000 for the same purpose and
that other citizens of the village would
give $1,500.
During the month of May petitions
were circulated, asking that the county
commissioners submit the question of the
removal of the county seat at the general
election on November 2, ISSG. The pe-
tition received 604 signatures, and it was
]ircsented to the board of county commis-
sioners July 27. T«o days later the com-
missioners considered the ijctition. A pe-
tition a.sking that the Itoard do not take
favorable action was jircscntcd, and .lohn
K. Brown, of Jackson, presented a writ-
ten objection to having the petition filed
with the county auditor — a necessary step
if the question were to be submitted at the
Xovendicr election. The connuissi<mers,
by a vote of three to two, decided to de-
liver the petition to tiie county auditor for
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
167
publication. Those wiio voted in the affirm-
ative were Christian Lewis, J. CI. Fod-
nes and A. E. Kilen ; tliose in the negative,
J. W. Cowing and John Baldwin. The
last two named explained their reasons
for so voting as follows : That no proof
had been produced to show that the peti-
tion had been signed by a majority of the
county's freeholders who were legal voters.
The filing of the petition did not close
the question, however, and the matter was
again taken up in September. The Jack-
son people decided to contest the petition
before the board of county commissioners
and prevent the question from coming to
a vote, using the argument that many of
the signers were men who were not free-
holders, but men who held land under
contrael ; that as a matter of fact tlie pe-
tition did not contain the names of a ma-
jority of the freeliolders. as the law pro-
vided. For three days of the week ending
September 24 there was a lively discus-
sion before the county board. Attorney T.
J. Knox appeared for the Jackson jjeople
and analyzed the weak points of the pe-
tition. x\ttorncy Betzer appeared for Lake-
field in defense of the petition. The situ-
ation was complicated by the resignation
of Commissioner A. E. Kilen. H. C.
Sether was appointed to the vacancy, and
an adjournment taken to September 38.
On the 28th the commissioners decided
that the petition did not comply with the
law, in that it was found that only 330
freeholders v.'ho were legal voters had
signed the petition, while 433 had not
signed. On the final vote Commissioners
Lewis and Fodnes voted to have the ques-
tion submitted, while Commissioners Cow-
ing, Baldwin and Sether voted not to
submit it at the general election.^"
^"The official proceedings of the board for
September 28 are as follows:
"4:30 p. m. Moved by Mr. Lewis and second-
ed by Mr. Fodnes tliat the board now proceed
to count the names of the legal voters and
freeholders on the list for and against the re-
moval of the county scat. ■
Not much of historical importance oc-
curred in the county during the late eight-
ies. The people were blessed with good
crops, and prosperous times resulted. A
few new settlers arrived each year, new
farms were put under cultivation, and
tlie country otherwise improved.
One event that should be recorded for
this period was another — and the last —
severe blizzard. In the history of the
northwest there have been a few winter
storms of such unnatural severity that
they stand out as events of historical im-
portance. The most severe of these awful
storms was the blizzard of January 7, 8
and 9, 1873, an account of which has been
given. Banking second was the terrible
blizzard of January 12, ISSS, when scores
of people perished in Minnesota and the
Dakotas. Fortunately, there was no less
of life in Jackson county, although sev-
eral were caught in the storm. The Lake-
field Standard of January 19, 1888, told
of the blizzard:
Tliursday of last week [January 12] one of
tlie worst snow storms known for years raged
over the entire northwest. AH day long there
was a heavy snow-fall and a mild wind from
the south. In the evening the wind suddenly
changed to the northwest, and the temperature
grew colder. The air seemed filled with all
the snow banks of the country and it was not
safe to venture out of doors, as objects could
"The motion was lost.
"S p. m. All present.
"Two petitions, containing the names and
signatures of 26 freeholders who had signed
the petition for the removal of the county seat
from Jackson to I.akefleld, were presented,
withdrawing the names of said 26 freeholders
from said petition for all purposes whatever.
Said petitions, after being presented, were tak-
en by the attorney representing Lakefleld and
subsequently lost. All parties admit that such
petitions were so presented and contained the
names of such number of freeholders withdraw-
ing their names xrom said petition tor the re-
moval of said county seat.
"The board then proceeded to count the
names on the lists of freeholders and legal
voters within the county for and against the
petition to remove the county seat from Jack-
son to Lakefleld and found that 330 legal vot-
ers and freeholders had signed the petition for
the removal and 433 who had not signed said
petition.
"It was moved by Mr. Lewis and seconded
by Mr. Fodnes that the question of the removal
of the county seat from Jackson to Lakefleld be
submitted to the ""'oters of Jackson county at
the next general election. November 2, 1886.
"The motion was lost."
168
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
not be dUtiiiju'iiishod twenty feet away.
.Jackson cimiity. so far as lieard
from, escaped luekily, as no luinian lives have
been reported lost. A number of farmers were
overtaken on tlic prairie by tbe storm but es-
caped alive.
The county seat removal question was
not again opened during the late eighties,
hut preparations were made to take up
the fight again at some future time. The
legi.«lature on April 13, 1889, passed a hiw
authorizing tlie townships of Heron Lake
and Hunter to issue bonds, in sums not
exteeding five per cent of the assessed
valuation, for the purpose of raising funds
to apply on the erection of a court house
at the point the voters of the county might
select as the location for the county seat.'"
As the people of Heron Lake and Hunter
townships had no intention of furnishing
money to build a court house at Jackson
— where the county seat remained — the
i)onds were not issued.
The federal census of 1890 gave Jack-
son county a population of 8,924. This
was a gain of 3,814 in five years, the larg-
est gain in numbers during any previous
five year period. I'rosperous times con-
tinued during the first few years of the
decade beginning with 1890. Good crops
were raised, and many new settlers from
the middle states came to Jackson coun-
ty to purchase the comparatively cheaji
lands. Said the Jackson ]?ppublic of Au-
gust 14, 1891:
A little in()uiry among tlie real estate men
develops tbe faet that tbe ovitlook for Jaekson
county was never bri;;btcr than at tbe present
time. Tbe bountiful crops bave attracteil tlie
atfentif)n of eastern pco|>le. and the demand for
wild land is unprecedented. Tbe greater por-
tion of this land is being sold to newcomers
for actual settlement next spring and the bal-
ance is taken by resident farmers wbo desire
to increase the size of their farms— a sure in-
"A proviso of th<- law was as fullow.s:
■'Said boarrt of supervisor.* sball not pul such
l>onds upon the market, nor sell anv part there-
of, until the site of said court house Is legallv
eslalMlshed at the location designated in sucli
petition. And if said court house site be not
cslalilishid at such place within two years after
such tionds are voted such bonds shall l>ecome
null and void and shall be canceiled hv such
supervisors."
dication of prosperity. . . . Register Bald-
win says the number of transfers is increasing
rapidly, while the number of mortgages filed
shows a bealthy decrease.
'J'hfie was a slight ripple in county
seat removal matters during the winter
of 1892-93. In Nobles county the village
of Adrian was trying to wrest tlie county
seat from Worthington, when someone de-
veloped a plan to settle the matter in both
Nobles and Jackson counties. The plan
was to form three counties from the two,
with Jackson. Worthington and .\drian
as the county seats. That would have <;iv-
eii both Nobles county towns county seat
liDiiors. and, by taking part of western
Jackson county for the new county, it
would undoubtedly have given Jackson
such an advantage that the question of
removal to Lakefield would never have
been brought up again. Nobles -county
people seriously discussed the question of
taking such a proposition to. the legisla-
ture of 1893, but Jackson county people
never .seriously considered the matter, and
the project "died a bornin'."'
\n event of the year 1893 was a cv-
clone which visited the county on the even-
ing of Wednesday. Jtdy 5, and wliich re-
sulted in the destruction of many ihoii-
saiid dollars' wi.rtli of property. The
I>rincipnl damage was in (he villages of
Ileioii lijtke and Lakefield and in the
townships of Heron Lake. West Heron
Lake and Hunter. Barn.«, outhou.ees.
fences, chimneys and, in some instances,
houses were demoli.shed by the fury of the
.-lorm.
In the summer of 1893 came the mem-
orable panic, followed l)y a few years of
hard times. Business was for a time para-
lyzed, several business houses failed, and
a period of depression followed, which
was not entirely broken until tlie latter
part of the nineties. But this period of
hard times was not so keenly felt in Jack-
son county as it was in inanv of the less
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC UBRARY
MTOR, LENOX A«M
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
169
favored portions of the country. The panic
was preceded hy a decade of flourishing
timefi. Nearly all had prospered ami were
in a position to weather the financial crash
and its resultant period of depression.
The second contest for the removal of
the county seat to Ijakefield came in the
spring of 1S94. The Minnesota county
seat removal law at that time (as it does
now) pnividiMl that the petition for re-
moval must contain the signatures of at
least sixty per cent of the number of elec-
tors voting at the last preceding general
clectiun; that if the board of county
commissioners found that the required
number of signatures had been oljtaincd
ihey should call a special election to vote
upon the question: that if fifty-five per
cent of the voters at such special election
should declare in favor of removal, the
county seat should be changed. Ever
since the contest of eight years before tlie
people of Lakefield had been making jjrep-
arations and laying their plans for i-enew-
ing the conflict when the conditions were
)iropititious. They believed tlic time had
iiiine in 189-4.
The opening gun was fireil in February,
when a number of prominent citizens of
Lakefield and vicinity issued a call for a
mass meeting to decide u))on tlie advisa-
bility (d' reopening tlie conflict. The meet-
ing was lield at Lakefield Feljruary '^4. at
which time it was unanimously decided
lo proceed. The following were chosen
an executive committee to have charge of
the campaign: N. J. Scott, John Freder-
ickson. 11. J. Hollister, M. E. Cluss, C.
Young, William Searles, George Sawyer,
('. Govp, John Crawford and C. Trade-
well. In a platform adopted it was stat-
ed that the removal forces intended to
conduct a clean and honorable cauipaign
aiul on the merits of the issue. The of-
ficial notice to circulate tlie petition was
drawn up on Februa'y 2-1 and signed by
10
John Crawford, X. J. Scott and W. A.
Funk.
The work of circulating the petitiim
was begun on ilarch I'i, and on the 27th
the petition, containing the signatures of
1.431 voters, was filed with the cotinty au-
ditor. The board of county commission-
ers, composed of Henry Thielvoldt, J. W.
Cowing, H. K. Eue, George Erbes and
Thomas Chesterson, met in special ses-
sion April 16 to determine the standing
of the petition. No nnited effort was made
by the people of Jackson to secure with-
drawals from the petition or to fight the
instrument at this meeting of the board,
although W. B. Sketch, of Jackson, filed
olijoctions to eai-h and every aft'idavit con-
tained in the petition, maintaining that
there was no evidence that the names on
the petition constituted sixty per cent of
the legal voters at the last general election,
or that the notices of publication had been
legally published. On the seventeenth the
board took favorable action and issued
the necessary certificate, calling the elec-
tion for May 15.
So soon as the action was taken that
made an election certain, the people of
Lakefield opened the campaign with a
clever piece of work — the building of a
court house at Lakefield. A special meet-
ing of the Lakefield village council was
lield on the evening of April 17, when it
was decided to build at once a city hall
of bi-ick and stone, the free use of which
should be given to Jackson county for
court house purposes in the event of the
removal of the county seat. Lots one and
two, in block five, were purchased for a
site. Architect Thayer, of Mankato, was
telegraphed for, and he arrived on the
evening of the 18th. Plans for a build-
ing, .50x60 feet, .30 feet high, were drawn,
and the contract, calling for the comple-
tion of tlie building by ^lay 10, was made
with .V. W. Schwe]ipe & Company, of St.
170
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
.lames. Construction was begun on tlu'
morning of the 19th, and it was rushed to
completion. After tlic work was started
a special village election was held and
bonds to the amount of $8,000 were vot-
ed to pay for the building. This struc-
ture, much praised, much maligned, play-
ed an important jwit in the history of
Jackson county. Witii the possible ex-
ception of the old court house, it is the
most thoroughly di.scusscd building ever
erected in the county.
That the offer of (liis buililitiir lor court
house jjurposcs should lie known to he
made in good faith, a i]uit chiini di'cd to
the lots upon which the ImililinL'' wms be-
ing erected was given to II. .1. lloUistcr,
(!. G. Sawyer and N. J. Scott, and these
gentlemen executed a bond and signed a
lease to the board of county commission-
ers, binding themselves to provide the
Lakefield court house for county purposes
for a term of ten years for a nominal ren-
tal price of one dollar per year. The ma-
jority of the board of county commission-
ers agreed to accept the lease in case llic
county seat was moved. The olVrr of this
building doubtless won many votes for
Jyakcticld in the election. One of tlie prin-
cipal aru'unu'nts of .lackson bail been Ibat
removal would necessarily cause the ex-
penditure of considerable money to build
a court house.
The campaign which followed was an
exciting one and very close. When the
votes were counted on the evening of ilay
1"). it was found that Jackson was the
victor by forty votes. The total vote was
•.i,S03. of which Lakefield received 1,502
and Jack-son 1,301. To have won. Lake-
field must have received 1,542, or fifty-
five per cent of the total vote. The vote
bv prociticts wa.-^ as follow-; :
PRECINCT
Alba
Belmont
Christiania
Delafield
Des Moines
Enterprise
Ewinf^ton
Heron Lake Township,
Hunter
Kimball
LaCrosse
Middletown
Minneota
Petersburg
Rost
Round Lake
Sioux Valley
Weimer
West Huron Lake
Wisconsin
.lackson
Lakefield
Heron Lake Village....
Total
Lake- Jack-
field son
60
47
58
138
10
8
G6
150
ys
12
81
17
50
9
87
99
82
«8
5
3
i:ii)
96
1502
103
()«
119
91)
1
1
22
98
31
9.5
27
135
1
9
li
94
322
1301
CHAPTER XIII.
CURRENT E VENTS— 1895-1910.
THE progress of a community is re-
tieetcd to a considerable extent in
its census returns. That Jack-
son county's progress had been steady is
attested by the fact that from 1800, when
enumerators found inhabitants in Jaclv-
son county for the first time, up to the
]n-escnt time, eacli five year census had
shown a gain in population. The great-
West Heron Lakr
Wilder
Wisconsin
258
2.52
47y
Total 12,324
Considerable railroail history was made
in Jackson county during 1895 and 1896,
but no railroads were built. For many
years the people of the county had tried
to secure the building of a mu-th and
est increase during any of these five year t;outh j'oad ; they had approached every
periods occurred from 1890 to 1895. Ac-
cording to the state census for the last
uientioned year, the population of Jack-
son county was r2,324. Thi.s was an in-
crease of 3,400 in five years. During the
decade the couniy liad more than doubled
in population. Divided by precincts the
jiopulation of 1895 was as follows:
Alba 308
Belmont 680
Christiania
Delafield
Des Moines
Enterprise
Kwington
Heron Lake Township
Heron Lake Villap;e . . .
Hnnter
•Tackson
Kimball 501
LaC'rosse 510
Lakeiield 51"
Middletown 553
Jlinneota 431
Petersburg 659
Rost 400
Round Lake 457
Sioux Vallev 496
Weimer . . ." 391
020
279
605
463
395
608
646
452
1.356
company in the country to the south —
both those with lines of railroad and those
withiiut: they liad oft'ered inducements to
ciini]>any after coiui.nuiy, but none was
fiiuud who would build into the Milwau-
kee territory. Finally, several capitalists
of Jackson formed a company and obtain-
ed a charter with tlie hope of some day
being able to nuike arrangements to build
a north and south road. The proposed
road was named the Jackson Southern.
In 1895 the promoters decided to un-
dertake the work of building the first sec-
tion, from Jackson south to some point on
the Burlington. Several of the precincts
in the southwest corner of the county,
whicli would be most benefited, were ask-
ed to issue bonds to aid the work, and on
October 8 the following voted bonds : Des
]\Ioines, $8,000; Wisconsin, $8,000: Mid-
dletown, $9,000 : Jackson, $11,000. Bonds
(lid not carrv in Petersburg, which was
171
172
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
asked to give $9,0UH. A iiieetiug of the
stockholders was held October 11, when
preliminary arrangements for securing
right-of-way and commencing grading
were made. Another meeting was held
at Jackson Octol)er 1!». which was report-
ed by the Jackson County Pilot a.s fol-
lows :
On last Satuiilay. OcIhIiit 111. tlic liouid of
ilirci-tors of the .laiks.ni .Soutlicin lailioiul lield
an impoitiiiit sisriinn in tliis i-ity. .Xmon;; those
present were Messrs. .1. K. !!niwn, K. K. Car-
penter, Ah'xaiiihM- I'i.ldes, 1>. H. l?erf;e. .J. W.
Cowing, T. J. Knox, of .laikson: .1. .1. Itell, of
Ues Moines, Iowa: and Mah-olm .lohnson. of
Galveston, Texas.
Ainont; other important bnsiness transaeted.
an assessment of ten jier eent was ma<ie on the
stoekhohlers. wliieli it is presumed will meet
with a liearty response, as it is newssary to
have funds to carry on the work. Arranjie-
mcnts were also perfected for building the road,
work on whieli has already l)e"un. and dirt
will be llvin" alonj;
line bv next week.
The company Inis made arraiifjements to
push the work to completion at as early a chite
as possible, and if December shall be an open
montli. like last year, the iron horse will neigh
upon the suburbs of .Jackson before the dawn-
ing of the new year.
The road will not prove so great a blessing
to Petersbiug township as it would have done
had the bond proposition carried in that town.
It is the intention of the company to locate a
station in Middletown and build up a little
village there. This will certainly ]>rove a boon
to the farnu'rs of Middletown and will amply
repay them for the aid voted.
Befdi'o the close f»f October a large part
of the right-of-way had been secured and
surveyors had run the line. Early in Xo-
vemi)er the contract for grading live of
the eight mili^s between Jackson and tlip
state line was let. and by the middle of
the month a large force of graders was at
work. The winter was an open one, and
the making of the roadbed was continued
nearly all winter, and most of the heavy
grading was completed. The company
was liandicajiped for lack of funds, but
early in March. lSi)6. Ti contract for the
sale of $"2r).000 worth of the township
bonds was made, and the work was con-
tinued. In May the grading was com-
pleted, and the next month tracklaying
was begun. Then, suddenly, the work
ceased ; lack of paid-up capital was re-
sponsible for the failure.
On the evening of Friday, August 19,
1898, the county was visited by a destruc-
tive wind storm, which resulted in two
deaths and destruction to property to the
value of $100,000. The storm came from
the nortii and did its first damage in the
village of Wilder. There the roof df tlie
main building of I'reck college was Idown
olf. the church and Woodman's hall were
demolished, and D. I.. IMcv's lumber
shed was wrecked, as well as several other
building.s damaged.
The storm then lifted, going over Deia-
(ield and Ilenui Lake townsliijis. but
flroppcd down again at Lakelield. There
th.e Jackson County State Bank building
was partially unroofed, the Norwegian
Lutheran churcji was moved from its
foundation and wrecked beyond rejiair,
William Searles' brick store building was
struck by lightning and damaged. Charles
Nelson's house was completely demojislietl,
iii.iny outhouses and barns were blown
down. At Okabena a box car was blown
from a sidetrack onto the main line and
thence eastward on tin- main line i>f the
Milwaukee eleven miles. The wiml then
seemed to change to the o]iposite direction,
for the car was blown back llic saiiic dis-
tance, without any damage whatever hav-
ing iieen done it.
From Lakefield the storm |iroceednl
south through Hunter and Minncota
l"ivnshi])s. Much dannige was done alonn
its course through lho.«e precincts, some
farms being swept entirely clear of build-
ings. In Minneota the tornado turned
east, al right angles. Nearly every bit ol
property along the course of the st<irm in
Middletown was destroyed. In Petersburg
the damage also was great, and in that
township occurred the deaths. Tlu' vir-
lims were ^Ir. and Mrs. Herman Kggen-
HISTOEY OV JACKSOX COUNTY. 173
steiu, who were temporarily living iu Uie ol tlie county seat of Jackson county
upper part of their barn, their house he- came in 1900. The five years which the
ing under construction. The barn was law provided should intervene between
conipletelv blown to pieces, and Mr. and elections for the removal of county seats
Mrs. Eggenstein were killed instantly, had then passed, and the people of Lake-
Xeighboring counties suffered some loss field and their friends in the western and
as a result of the storm, hut its main northern parts of the county believed they
strength seems to liave been expended in stood an excellent show' of secui-ing the
Jackson county. lemoval from Jackson, basing their be-
After the hard times period following lii'i' "h ^h' fact that Lakefield was located
tlie panic of 189:5, Jackson county en- i" almost tiie exact center of tlie connty,
tered upon a prosperous era— the most "l"!'' ''ackson \va,- far rroin the geograph-
prosperous iu its whole history, before or i'al center and no longer could claim
since. During the years 1897 to 1903, in- '" 1>^' t'le center of population.'
elusive, excellent cro]jt were the rule, and Eaidy in the spring .ionie [ireliminary
hundreds of new settlers came to .^hare work was done in the way of finding out
in the bounteous times. Laud values the sentiment of the people, and on Wed-
jumped several hundred per cent; farm ncsday evening, April 4, the business men
lands that liad sold for $10 to $20 per of Lakefield met and fornuiUy started the
acre advanced to $35 to $100 per acre. It contest. The next day a committee corn-
was a time of unprecedented prosperity, posed of IL J. Hollister, iL H. Evans
and continued until the disastrous year and E. T. Smith gave notice that the peti-
1903. tion for removal would be circulated on
The census of 1900 showed the county A])ril ■3.'!. This was published officially
to have a population of 14,793, divided April 7. and the contest was started. On
among the several precincts as follows: April Kl the people of Jackson, reprcsent-
^P^^ 411 ed by T. J. Knox. Alexander Fiddes,
Alpiia' ".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'..... 20!) Xiels Hande\ itt. J. C. Edlin, R. S. Eob-
chriitl!^ia ■;■'::::::;::::::::;::::::::: 5G0 *-rt-""- r- "^^'^ Ashiey, g. g. Arontson, c.
Delafield 4.53 Tichacek and ^M. B. Hutchinson, gave no-
^,"1 ■"*'".""■" t>n tice that thev would contest the removal,
bntfriiiisc 0.20
Ewiiifiton 478 this notice being published April 13.
Heron Lake Townsliip 580 ,-, ^i ii t i ^ 1 n . !.„,.„ , ,^
Tj , , ,-|, - noa lor a month the Lakeneld workers can-
Heron Ijake \ illage 'JiH
Hnnter -iTi vassed the county securing signatures to
•,l"'''V",'i ''ro- the petition and were very successful. On
Kniuiall y<'ii ^
I.aC'rosse .>17 Tuesday, ilay 23, the petition was filed
'^f.';';';'''^^ ^I'i; with the countv auditor. It contained
.Midclletown otO
Minnenta 506 1,(348 namcS' — 321 riiore than the number
Petersburg u3 i^equired to bring the question to a vote.-
Rost 401 1. '^ ^
Round Lake 513 Xoticc was at once given of a special ses-
Sionx Valley 503
Weinicr 410 'The center of population at the time was
,,. . TT ' ' ' T 1 ■J-- on the northwe-st quarter of section two. .Hunt-
wesl Heron l^alce ,ii^o ^^ township. The census of 1900 showed that
Wilder 174 there were 7,118 people in the north half of
Wiscousiu .525 the county and 7,675 in the south half. In the
two western tiers of townships the populntion
_, , , , , _„„ was 4,725; in the two eastern tiers. 6,912: in
iotal 14,70.i „,,p middle tier. 3.156.
=The total vote in 1898 was 2.211. and sixty
The third struggle for the possession Per^ceiU^of that was 1,327-the number requlr-
174
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
sidii of tlic county l)oar(l to be liekl June
11, to take aetion in the matter of the
petition.
Wlien the eoniniissioners nut. \\ . i'>.
Sketch, of Jackson, filed a written ol)jee-
tion to tlie consideration of the petition
on the ground that tin- notice of intention
to circulate petition was not in tlic fnrtn
required hy law. He filed furtiier olijei-
tion on the ground that Coniniissioner
Crawford was disqualified from sitting as
a member of the board of county comnns-
sioners: also on the ground of lirilieiy
having been offered by the village of Lake-
field : also that County .Vltorney V.. 'V.
Smith was dis(|Uiilifiod from acting as
legal advisor to tiie board on account of
being directly interested in the removal
of the county seat. Tiie commissioners
decided that they liad jurisdiction, and,
after having stricken tliroe names from
the ])etition, they held that the required
number of signatures had been obtained
and that it was in accordance with tlic
law. The proper certificate was made and
filed, and July 10 was named as the date
for holding the election.
The campaign which ensued was spirit-
ed. Workers for both towns canvassed
the county thorougidy. Ill feeling de-
veloped between the two communities, and
mud slinging was not bnrred ; in many
instances personal aliiisc was used in place
of argument, .\gain the peo]dc of Lake-
field offered their public building to the
county for a rental price of one dnllnr
per year, providing tiu^ jieople voted them
the county .seat. A bond in the sum of
$30,000 guaranteeing this was exeiiiicMl
July 3.'
Jack.son was again succcssfid at the
polls, winning by the narrow margin of
'The milkers of the homl were M. II. ICviiiis.
John Fretlericksnn. Wlllliim Searles. .7. W.
Dinilinev. H. J. Hollister. Thoma.s i^rawford. C.
M. Oage. G. W. Curtls.x. A. F. Haiif. Adolph
Bettin. C. H. Wood, George Brltsch. t". S. HeuU.
S. Searle.s. W. F. TImm. D. I-. Riley. F. I.,
l/oonard. H. A. Rhodes. .X. A. Fo.sness and Wil-
Jlam Kaiidcr.
twenty-seven votes. The total vote count-
ed was :{,.")58/ of which Lakefield received
l.'.i.Sii and JacLson l,(i".i8. To have won
Lakclicld must have received 1,957 votes
— the .J.") ])er cent of the total vote. Fol-
lowing is the result by jirociiirls:
I'KECINCT
Lake-
field
Alba
Belmont
(."hrisfiania
DelalieUl
Des Moines
Enterprise
Ewin^ton
Heron Lake Township
Hunter
Kimball
LcCrosse
Middletown
Minneota
Petersburg
Rest . .
Round Lake
Sioux Valley
Weimer
West Heron Lake . . .
Wisconsin
Jackson
Lakefield
Heron Lake Village . .
Total
;o
84
157
15
4
98
14n
108
44
71
9
84
13
116
91
108
101
94
22
265
\9i0
Jack-
.\ lelcbratioli in hoiinr of llic \icloiy
was held at Jack.son on .luly 1L when
the exercises were held in a downpour of
rain. Fifteen hundred visitors were ]ires-
cnl to assist in tlu' jollification.
'I'lie vote had been .so close that the
|)eople of Lakefield decided to take the
iiuiiter into the courts, and on August ID
notice of a ciuitest was served on the board
of county commi.ssioners. It was alleged
on the ])art of Tiakeficid that the form of
ballot u.sed was misleading and did mis-
lead voters, that voters were required to
vote the .\ustralian system when the law
did not provide for so voting, that .«ev-
*The tola) numher of liallot.s e.-isl was S.STfl.
but several were improperly marked, so that
only 3.55S wire eounti'd. If the per cent should
be flRiired from the tot.il number of ballots put
in the Uillot box. Lakefield was short thirty-
eight votes of winning.
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
175
era! elector.s were kept from voting be-
cause of threats and intimidations, that in
Middlotowu township voters were allowed
to take ballots away from the polling
place before voting, that in some precincts
the judges counted fewer votes for Lake-
fii'ld than had been cast for tliat town,
that money was paid certain specified per-
sons for voting against removal. A re-
count was demanded, and the people of
Lakefield asked the court to declare the
election void if it was found that fraud
had been practiced.
In their answer to the charges the peo-
]ile of Jackson, hy M. B. Hutchinson, filed
iu August, denied all the charges and al-
leged irregularity and fraud on the part
of the people of Lakefield.
The case came to trial in the district
court before Judge James H. Quinn on
November 27. Attorneys George W. Wil-
son and IT. G. Latourell appeared for
Lakefield and Attorneys T. J. Knox and
George W. Somerville for Jackson. A few
witne.sses were examined, and the case
was submitted by briefs.
In his decision dated January 30, 1901,
Judge Quinn disnii^^ed the proceedings
and said :
LpDii tile trial im cvideiu-i' was ollcifil in
support of the allegations contained in the no-
tice of contest or answer of the contestee as to
fraud, brihery or other misconduct upon the
part of the electors or others interested in
said election. But the contestant urges that
the election in i|uestiou is void, for the reason
that the ballot used was not such a ballot as
the law provides shall be used in case of a re-
moval of a county seat; that the Australian
system is not tlie law u.nder which the vote for
the change of a county seat should lie con-
ducted, and tliat there has never been a legal
canvass of the votes polled at such electi<ui.
and that therefore the election so held should
he declared null and void by an order of this
court, for the reasons above set forth.
The contestant further insists that if the
foregoing referred to order is refused, that sec-
tion one of article eleven of the constitution is
still in force, and that under it a bare majority
vote is sufficient to change a county seat, not-
withstanding the several amendments tliereto,
and that an order should be made for that
reason changing the county seat from tlie vil-
lage of Jackson to the village of Ijakefield.
The last contention on the part of the con-
testant, I am satisfied, is not well taken, and
that the legislature has power to pass an act
fi.\ing the number of votes required to remove
a county seat.
As to the proposition that such election
should be declared void, it appears from the
petition, as well as the evidence and admis-
sions of tlie parties, that the election was duly
called, and that it was held under and pui-
suant to chapter one of the general statutes
of this state: that the ballot used was such as
is provided for in that chapter and that it
clearly informed the elector for what he was
voting, and I am unable to see how he could
have been mislead or in anj- manner deceived
by the use of such ballot, nor is the manner of
the return by the judges of election to the
county auditor questioned.
The county commissioners canvassed tiie
vote on the 13tli day of July, three daVs after
the holding of the election, presumably under
tiie jirovisions of section (i.50 of the general
statutes of 1894.
Xo claim was made ujioii the trial that any
fraud was ])erpetrated at any stage of the
election or in canvassing the returns, and it
clearly appears from the evidence had upon
tlie trial that there was a total of 3,570 votes
cast at such election, less than 55 per cent
of which, viz: 1931, were cast in favor of the
proposition to change the county seat.
It is therefore found as a conclusion of law
that the contestant is not entitled to the re-
lief asked for, and that such proceeding should
be dismissed.
Let judgment 1h> entered accordingly.
There was talk of appealing the case to
the supreme court, but for several months
no action was taken. Then exigencies
ai-oso. in connection with the campaign
against tlie erection df a jail building,
\\hicli demanded an appeal, and in July,
liidl, Lakefield gave notice of appeal.
The case was disposed of in the supreme
court January 32, 1902, the decision be-
ing favorable to Jackson.
The construction of the county jail
building at Jackson in 1901 and 1902
was an event of im]iortancc ijecause of its
bearing on the cotinty seat removal ques-
tion and because of the fact that it paved
the way, to a certain extent, for tlie future
construction of a court house. That those
who favored the removal of the county
seat to Lakefield realized its importance
176
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
is altfstcd l)y tiie strenuous iiglit put up
against its coiistruttirm. Several injunc-
tions were secunMl and a liitter fight con-
tinued until the building actually jjassed
into the hands of ihe county.
The people of Jackson, realizing tliat
the construction of a jail building would
have a favorable influence upon the next
county seat contest — which was sure to
conic — donated to the county a site for a
jail building, with the proviso that title
should revert to the village of Jackson in
case tlie site should ever cease to be used
for county jail purpa-es. The first of-
ficial step toward erecting the building
was taken early in July, 1001. when the
county commissioners (Commissioners P.
H. Berge, John il. Olson and Henry
Thielvoldt voting yes. and Commissioners
David Crawford and George lu-bcs voting
no) passed a. resolution that a j:iil lie 1)uilt
according to plans furnished by Archi-
tect Kinney. On the same day a contract
was made with the Pauly Jail & Manu-
facturing company, of St. liouis, for the
erection of the building, to be completed
:March 1, 1902, and to cost $17,450.
This procedure brought the friends of
Lakefield to immediate activity. It was
then thfit the appeal ol the county seat re-
moval case was made to the supreme court.
An injunction, jirohibiting the county
commissioners from building a jail, was
asked froiii tlic district cmiit.' ;ind Judge
Quinn granted a temporary restraining
order. Tlie defemlants niovc<l to dissolve
the writ of injunction, and nn July 27
Judge Quinn did so.
After the court had removed the legal
liarrior. the county commissioners, in spec-
ial session July ^0 and :il. nuide ar-
rangements to proceed with the work. It
was decided to raise $10,000 bv bonding.
'The case wa.s entitled A. M. St. Jnlin. plain-
tiff, vs. P. D. McKcllar. county aiulltor. David
CYawford. P. H. BcrKC Honry Thielvoldt.
Oeorge Krbp.s and John M, Olson, lunnty com-
missioners, def^ndants.
and to utilize cash in tlie treasury for the
balance. The former contract was n -
scinded and bids were called for. to be
o])eiied September 11. Again the Lakc-
ticld people appealed to the district court.
l-larly in Sei)teniber they went liefore
.hidge Quinn and askid for an injunction
restraining the commissioners from spend-
ing county money for a jail building and
for other relief. This hearing was held
at Fairmont September 10 before Judge
Kingslev. Ili> ilccision was to the elTect
that the commissioners had perfect legal
audiority to carry out their proposed
plans: the injunction was refused.
Bids for the construction of the jail
iiuilding were opened, and on Scptenilier
r.* a new contract was made wilii the
I'aulv Jail & Manufacturing company at
a price of $1-1,2(10. On January 7. 1!I02,
the specifications were ciianged and $3,2iiO
was added to ihe contract jiricc The
supiemc court decision of January 22,
[W2. on the matter of bond.* furnished
by the Lakelielcl people, elTectually dis-
po.sed of the claim tliat the injuiution
against the commissioners building a jail
was still in force. For the time being all
legal objection to proceeding with the jail
Iiuilding was Tcmoved.
Having received nothing but unfavor-
able ilecisions in their efforts to pp-vent
the building of the jail, the Lakcficld peo-
])le next demanded an injunction |H-ohib-
iting the commissioners from issuing the
$10,000 bonds, and in this they were sur-
cessful. The case was entitled William
D. Hill vs. the county commissioners, and
was brought Itefore Judge Quinn in
March, 1902. On the 2Sth of that month
the judge made an order, holding, among
other things, that the county .seat was at
Jackson, that the county commissioners
were vested with authority to contract for
the building of a jail to the extent of all
inonev in the troasurv availalile for that
HiSTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
17
]nirpose, but that they must not enter into
,iny contract that required the expendi-
ture of mure money than wa? so availalile.
Tliis, of co"iirse, prevented the bond is-
sue, but the majority of the county board
found a way out of the difficulty. Oil
April 18. in special session, on the prop-
osition of the I'auly Jail & Manufactur-
in,;;- company, the commissioners abro-
gated the contracts before made and en-
tering into a new contract with the same
company for the erection of the Ijuilding
(without tlie steel cells, etc.) at a price
of $9,000. wliich amount was availal.de.
The building was completed, accepted by
the commissioners July 24, 1902. and a
^\■a^rant drawn for the contract price. On
Septemlier 2.'^) the contract for the cell
'work was let to the same company for
$7,800, that aniount then being available.
The completed jail was accepted July 13,
190.J, and a full settlement nvas made at
that time.
As has been stated previously, prosper-
ous times continued in Jackson county
until the -year 1903. That was a year of
disasters and marked the beginning of a
short era of depression, due to partial
crop failures because of excessive rainfall.
The disasters of the 3"ear began May
22. . For several days succeeding there
Kcve continual aiuj awful rain, wind and
electric storms that did great damage in
all parts of the county, as well as in all
southwestern ^lionesota. Creeks and riv-
ers overflowed and sloughs Ijecame vast
lakes. Bridges were washed away, tele-
phone and telegraph lines were destroyed,
and the railroad lines were put out of
commission. The damage to crops was
great, and many buildings were wrecked
by the wind.
The most disastrous wind storm, in the
luatter of lo.ss of life and destruction to
property, in the history of Jackson coun-
ty occurred Tuesday evening, June 30,
11)03. The death dealing tornado trav-
ersed portions of LaCrosse and Weimer
townships and entered the northeast cor-
ner of Delafield, killing seven people and
destroying property to the value of $100,-
00(1. The killed were:
Mrs. Joseph Fritscher
Miss Aurelia Fritscher
Mrs. Fritscher's baby girl
Joseph Mathias
Daniel Gallagher
Ellen Gallagher
Nettie Gallagher
The Jackson County Times of July -4,
1!HI3. tells of the storm as .seen from
Heron Lake :
About seven o'clock Tuesday evening a dense
lilack cloud was seen to form on the lower hori-
zon northwest of town that was perfectly
stationary, but almost immediately after its
formation a white loud, which appeared to
come from beyond the vision somewhere in the
northeast, started towards it and was appar-
ently engulfed in the heavier mass. This pro-
cess continued for about ten or fifteen minutes,
when all at once the dense black mass appear-
ed to leap upward, leaving a clear space of a
bright red tint between it and the horizon.
After this sudden move it again became sta-
tionar.v for a few seconds, when it started
again at a terrific speed directl.y towards Heron
Lake, but in less time than it takes to descrilie
it, in fact one might sa.v the twinkling of an
eve, it chan.eed its course to almost direct
northeast, when the work of destruction to life
and property commenced.
The tornado struck the earth at the
farui of Jcry Sixllivun, on the southeast
(juarter of section 1-5, LaCrosse township,
threr and one-half miles northeast of Her-
on Lake. There the only damage was
the destruction of a A\indmill and a hen
house. .Terry Sullivan and Martin Lar-
son, who were in the barn at the time,
stated that the air was as hot as a blast
from a furnace. From the Sullivan farm
the storm traveled northeast to John
Beichner's place, where it demolished the
barn, granary, engine house, three bug-
178
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
gies and farm niachinery and did consid-
erable damage to the iioiise. The family
were in the hou-se but escaped injury. The
home of Chris Krieger, on the I'owlit-
cheek I'ann. \va> struck, but the damage
there was not gnuu. The hog house was
torn to piece.- and the barn moved off its
foundation. The family sought shelter in
an out-door cellar.
Tlie tnrnailn hnil gained great force
when it icailird ihe farm home of John
Mathias, and nothing but splinters of
ruin were left of the barns, granaries and
otlier outbuildings, while the largo resi-
dence was almost a total wreck, altliougli
it was left on the fnundation. A num-
Ijcr of hogs wen' killed. With one c.n-
ceptioii all the ini'iiihei's <if the family
were in the house during the storm and
ci^caped injury. Jose])li ^lathias, twenty
years of age, was in the field when the
storm came up and was killed when (m
his way to the h.ouse by being struck by
Hying timbers. The Hager school house,
nearby, was entirely destroyed and its
ruins scattered over a large area. At
Henry Meyers' home all sought shelter in
the cellar. The house was not injured,
but all the other buildings were destroyed.
Cottonwood trees, 12 to lo inches in diam-
eter, were twisted nil" and hurled in :il!
directions.
'j'hree human live.' were lost at Joseph
Frit.sclier's home on (he Louis Hager farm,
where the storm next appeared. Here the
house, barns and siieds were blown to
jjieces and all the machinery on the jilaee
piled in one heap, while many of the trees
in the grove were twisted oif. The Kritscher
family saw the storm approaching and
were preparing to seek safety in the cel-
lar, but the storm struck the house be-
fore they got down. Mrs. Frit-scher was
killed instantly, her head being nearly
severed from her body. Her little baby
girl was also killed, its skull having been
crushed. Aurelia Kritscher, another child,
bad her back broken and died soon after
found. Mr. Krit.scher"s father, who was in
the liarn at the time of the storm, had
his jaw liroken and was Ijadly injured.
The childien of tiie family. e.\ce])ting the
two killed, were not badly hurt. Mr.
Frit.sclier was rendered unconscious i)y in-
juries received, and wlien he came to his
senses found himself lying in a grove.
From the Fritscher home the storm
crossed the township line into Weinier and
struck Bernard iliranowski's home, blow-
ing down the l>arn and corniribs and tear-
ing .some of the shingles olT the iiini>c.
^fr. iliranowski received a slight ga.-li in
the head and was the only one on the
place injured. Wiicn he saw thi' storm
a|)])roach he sought .-afety by lying lint on
tiie ground in a driveway between the
corncribs. Ai Mrs. Chepa's place the
house and all the other buildings were en-
tirely destroyed and some stoek was kill-
ed, ilrs.. Chepa and a daughter sought
shelter in the grove, where they clung to
a tree, iliss Chepa was struck by a fly-
ing board, wliicii tore off a piece of her
scalp and a braid of hair. The braiil was
later found a half mile away.
After leaving the Chepa place the storm
broadened its course. It destroyed a barn
and hog hou.sc at Frank Stenzefs and
l)roke most of the windows out i>f the resi-
dence. About a half mile from there, at
Clement SIcn/elV. I he iiarn was destroy-
ed. At F. l"'.. Streator's farm a new barn
and granary were destroyed and several
cattle killed, some of them being carried
to the Little lies ^loines river, a half mile
awav. The bridge over the l)es Moines
east of Streator's was destri>yed.
.\bou( a mile I'a.-t of the bridge the
storm .-fruek tii.' hmne of Dr. Westernian
and demoli.'ihed everything on the place
excepting a threshing machine engine.
This was an exceptionally fine farm home,
THE MEW YORK
[public LIBRARY
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
179
iuul lliL' liissL's amounted to over $20,000.
I'j^lit liiiildiiigs were entirely demolished,
luuoli macJiinery and several vehicles were
destroyed, se\eral head of stock were kill-
ed, and the fields were .stripped as clean
a.~ tliougii they had been plowed. The
twehe peojile who «ere on the place es-
caped injuiy liy crouching in the cellar.
The ne.xt jjlace to feel the hand of the
destroyer was the home of Daniel GalJa-
glier, on tlie south bank of String lake,
and here the three inhabitants on tlie
place were killed. The house was blown
into the lake and tlie other Inuldings torn
to iiieces. Mr. Gallagher and his daugh-
ter, Ellen, were blown into the lake and
drov.-ned. Nettie Gallagher, another
daughter, was found on the bank of the
lake, a mutilated cor])se. Wilder, a mile
south of the scene of this disaster, was
unharmed. From the Gallagher place the
storm continued eastward toward Win-
dom, but soiui lost its force.
While the whole season of lIlOo was
rainy, it was not until Septeml)er that the
deluge came. Beginning with Friday,
September 11, and continuing several
days, came an awful downpour of water,
the greatest in the history of the county,
and thousands of dollars worth of dam-
age was done. The Des Moines river and
the many creeks rose to great heights,
carrying away bridges in all parts of the
county. Heron lake was reported to be
rising at the rate of eight inches an hour
on Sunday, the ISth — sometliing entirely
without precedent. Two thousand feet of
Milwaukee track were washed out between
Okabena and Jliloma, and the grade at
the Ijridge at Okabena was washed down
from three to eight feet. Whole sections
of the county were nnder water, the north
part of Alba township and the south part
of LaCrosse township being a vast lake.
Grain and hay stacks in many parts of
the county were nnder water, and in
places the water was so high the stacks
floated away. Heavy winds accompanied
the rains in some townships, and many
wrecked buildings resulted. The losses
from all causes were enormous and had
a disastrous efl:ect on the county's prosperity.
The first official step toward the erec-
tion of Jackson county's new court house
was taken July 23, 1903, when the board
of county commissioners in special ses-
sion resolved to raise the sum of $50,000
for the purpose of erecting and furnish-
ing the building and provided for hold-
ing a special election to vote on the ques-
tion of bonding for that amount. The
division of the voters on the question was
about the same as it had been on the
county seat removal question. The west
side of the county a]id the country tribu-
tary to Lakefiold voted almost solidly
against the bonds, while the people fav-
orable to Jackson retaining the county
seat voted as solidly for the bonds. The
bonding proposition was defeated by a
vote of 1.551 to 1,316. By precincts the
vote was as follows :
PRECINCT
For
Bonds
Against
Bonds
Alba
Belmont
Christiania
Delafield
Des Moines
Entei-prise
Ewington. . ....
Heron Lake Township
Hunter
3
72
46
1
122
104
8
i
19
54
13
100
22
113
"i
17
2
5
93
453
6
27
■34
87
43
32
105
6
9
74
138
90
7
47
5
58
7
119
46
70
94
85
5
5
237
143
30
9
Kimball
Middletown
Minneota
Petersburg
Rost
Round Lake
Sioux Valley
Weimer
West Heron Lake
Wisconsin
Jackson
Lakefield
Heron Lake Village
Wilder
Alpha
Total
1316
1551
IHO
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
again early in 100(> there was available
$2;5.()()0.
Uiirinj; the ])erii)(l of stngnation canned
hy the nnfavoral)le eroj) conditions dur-
inj: tile few yeai>; of the last deeade,
the eensus of l!t(l."> — llie hist before the
j)ublieation of this volume — was taken.
in
of only 1.") in five years — the only five year
period in the countyV history when a
sidjstiintial gain was not recorded. ' Of
the till d |po|)u!iitiiin, 7,S44 wen- nialo
,ind (>,!l!»4 females. By townshijis the di-
\ isioii was as follows :
Althoiigji the i)ond proposition was de-
feated, the majority of the county board,
su.stained by the sentiment of the people
(d' Jackson and southeastern Jackson
county, decided to^ go on with prepara-
tions for securing the county building.
The ])eople of Lakefield (who had not
given up the idc-a of trying again for The population was then 14,838. a
county scat honors, by any means) and of
other ])ortions of tiie county naturally
did everything in their power to l)lock the
moves made liv tlie countv boai'd, am! a
lively contest ensued. In July, 1!>0I!. the
commissioners bad voted a tax of $10,000
for court house ]mr])oses. but when Couu-
ty Auditor P. 1 ). M, Kelhir extended the
taxes on the tax book^ he did not include
tliis court house tax. The commission-
ers on .huuutry o, 1904. took action to
cnm])el him to do so. a.skiiig a writ of
mandamus from the district court. On
^larcb 3 Judge Quinn denied the motion
for mandamus. h<dding that it was prop-
er that the counts auditor should not ex-
tend the $lfi,000 upon the tax books.
In consequence of this decision, tlie
county was witho\it court hou.«e funds,
and the matter was of necessity dni])ped
temporarily. In Jidy. I'.hii. the commis-
sioners passed a resolution declaring the
old court house unsuital)le and inade(|uate W iUli-r- ...
,. ,, f 1 • 1 i. 1 Wisconsin
lor the purposes tor wliieh it was used,
and providing for tiic erection of a new
building to cost not over $ri."),00(l and for
the procuring of plan.* and specifications
for such a building." Keejiing within the
amount ])rovided by law, the connnission-
crs in 1904 levied a lax of $9,000 for
court house purposes and the next year
levied $14,000 for the same purpose, so
thai when the matter was brouirbl un
AIha
Alpha
I'elmont . . .
Cliristianiii
IVlaliel.l
l)rs Moines
Knter|)ii.*e
Kwington
Heron Luke Towns!ii|>.
Heron Luke Village ....
Hunter ..:
.Iiuk^nii
Kimball
LaC'rosse . .
Liikeliel.l .
.MiililleloWM
.Miiuieota
I'eterslMUg
Kost
Hound Lake
Sicmx Valley
Weimer
W'i'st Heron Lake
Total
J4I
■J 11
'i77
.MM
401
(!fi.i
.-.:i4
i:.s
{•,1S
s!»S
.'>7n
1.77(1
.-..lO
4.><.-i
!iir,
."i."iii
1--7
7.'»o
.'i.i-.'
.•i.M
.■i<Ml
42!1
IJl
I i.sss
"CommfssUiner.** MeinT Ci. .Vndersnn. Henry
Georse Erlje.s in Ihc pepatlve. This was the
ThIelvolcU and J. M. Olson voted In the aftlrm-
atlve, Commlssioner.s David Crawford and
vote alway.** recorded in eourl house matters
while this board wa.s in office.
Ill tile matter of leiiglh of icsideiice in
the state the census showed Jackson coun-
ty to be well represented with |)ioneers.
There were 10") persons who had resided
in ilinnesota since before it was admit-
ted as a state in l.sJ.'iS — a period of over
47 years. There were l.S4!i who had been
continuous residents of Minnesota for he-
'The population of Jackson eountv in census
years "since the dale of settle-neni ha.*« been jo*
follows; ISGO. ISl: ],<J65. 2.H : ISTfl. 1.S25: IST"'.
3S0fi; issn. 4. SOS: l.s.ss. (i.iio: issn. g.!i24: is:"r..
12. .324: 1900. 14.703; 1005. 14,838.
HISTORY OT? JACKSON COtnSTTY.
181
tween 25 and 47 years, 8,415 for between The places of birth of the residents of
five and 25 years, and 3,569 wlio came Jackson county enumerated in the 1S105
less than five vears before. census are shown in the followine; table:
PRECINCT
o
a
Z
s
n
d
a
i
a
d
S
u
V
a
a
■a
at
CD
c
•0
a
£
E
1
■a
c
<a
a
W
e3
1
1
3
P3
a
a
a
OS
3
si
<8
1
S
fc.
Alba
im
75
113
!W
SI8
156
166
2iHl
US
176
1:14
553
100
9S
316
:;io
101
2.37
171
23il
184
9ti
124
3H
177
4345
142
124
308
295
263
328
240
153
305
504
2U1
857
287
281
245
162
2114
218
].')(•>
212
218
177
6!)
223
66
22
21
8
36
25
30
6',l
113
19
40
67
48
24
66
61
15
76
132
68
178
41
50
2
5
4
. 23
3
5
4
11
12
00
22
4
18
4
8
8
3
20
1
12
6
3
12
13
3
196
125
62
54
38
5
59
70
125
4.5
7
47
J
1
.53
10
31
IS
7
9
3
3
1
5
4
9
4
3
5
26
11
6
3
8
8
27
1
2
108
42
258
158
130
181
12S
105
195
21s
157
36)6
163
106
ld3
95
134
219
143
159
200
115
93
14
126
Belmont
Christiania
Delafield
Dps Moines
Enterprise
Ewington
HeronLake Twp.
Heron Lake Vil.
i"
1
5
3
2
4
1
5
3
13
1
1
i
IS
2
21
84
24
2
4
I
5
5
1
9
3
1
5
3
2
48
55
21
2
1
1
3
17
6
15
4
36
7
2
5
7
11
31
65
51
Jackson
Kimball
La Crosse
Lakefleld
Middletown
2
IS
1
3
2
1
8
2
8
6
1
3
65
1
i"
3
10
8
7
6
'2
9
2
2
"■■"ss"'
Petersburg
Host
Round Lake
Siou.v Valley
Weimer -
4
1
2
i
1
1
24
5
9
1
i
1
1
4
4
2
1
4
18
West Heron Lake
Wilder
2
2
3
1
2
Wisconsin
42
1
23
33
3
Total
6717
1317
212
1071
78
26
225
.58
269
42
26
362
9(1
3776
The building of the cnurt house again
liecame a live issue at the beginning of
the year 1906. The coniniissioners then
had $23,000 in the court house fund and
decided to begin the woiiv. At the first
meeting of the lioard that year — on Jan-
u.i'.y 4 — it was resolved that a court house
shmilil lie built at once which should cost,
including furnishings, not over $100,000.
The resolution was carried by the affirm-
iiiive \(ites (if t'oininissidiu'is .Vnderson,
'I'iiielvoldt and Olson, Coniniissioners ]\Ic-
Xab" and Crawford voting no. Arrange-
ments were made to secure ]dans and'
specifications, and on February 2 the
board accepted the plaa^^ of Buechner &
Orth. who estimated the cost of the pro-
posed building at not over $80,000, not
including vault fixtures, electric light fix-
tures or decorations.
~Diincan McNab had .succeeded George Brbes
as commissioner.
The action of the county board in de-
claring for immediate construction of the
building precipitated another county seat
removal contest," which proved to be one
of the most bitter and hardest fought con-
tests for county seat honors ever waged
in ^Minnesota. Over five years had elapsed
since the (juestion had been voted upon
and there was no legal liarrier to jiring-
ing another contest.'" Tlie people of the
west end of tlic county had been success-
ful in didaying the commencement of
work on a new court house until sucli
■■"■Thi.s movement i.s the logical result ot the
action ot the majority of the members of the
board of county comniissioners at their annual
meeting a month ago, when they passed a
resolution for the erection of a new court house
at Jackson to cost $100,000. It is very appar-
ent that the taxpayers of the count.v do not
approve the action of the board; and as we
said three weeks ago. the only way to prevent
them from carrying out their plans is to move
the county seat to Lakefleld." — Lakefleld Stand-
ard, February 1, 1906.
'"The Minnesota law governing county seat
removals provides that Ave years must elapse
after a vote has been taken on- the question be-
fore it can again be brought to a vote.
182
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
time as they were free to try agaiq for
removal to LakctieUl.
Inimoiliately after the lommissioners
ret^olved to proceed with the huihling the
eontest was started. On January T.i tlie
following notice was served "n tl>'' ci'unly
board :
To the Hoanl of County Coniiiiissioiiers ot tlu'
County of Jackson. State of .Minni-sota:
We, the undersigned, legal voters of the
county of .lackson. state of .Minnesota, inay
that tlie county seat llieieof he cliaiif-ed to the
vilhif,'!' of Lakelield. in said .laekson county.
NOTICE.
To all whom it may concern:
Notice, is heiehy fiiveii by t!ie undersi-;]!!!!
legal voters of .lackson county, Minnesota, that
the foregoing petition will he circulated, hegiu-
ning not earlier thaji I'ehruary 13. l!H)fi. nor
later than February l.i, I'.XHi. in said .lackson
county. Minnesota, for signatures of the legal
voters of said county for a change of the
county seat thereof to the village of Lakelield.
Jackson county. Minnesota.
Dated at Laketiekl. Minnesota, this I'Md day
of .lanuary. l!)m>."
The people of Jackson on Febriiiuv 1
gave legal notice of ilieir iiUriilidn to inii-
test the removal of the eoiinty seat,'- and
the hitter contest was on. In two of the
former contests the question had lieen
hrought to a vote without much clTort on
the part of Jackson to pi'evcnt it. In
this conflict tactics were changed. .lack-
son determining to tight the petition and
prevent, if jjossible, the qucjition from be-
ing submitted to the voters, by securing
withdrawals of signatures from the origi-
nal petition and by attacking the validity
of the petition.'^ Jacksim's line of action
"This notice was signed by L. F. I.ammers.
G. C. Buckeve. Jerry Sullivan. G. E. Morrl.son.
John Bcsscr. S. Dahl. August Seheppnian. J. C.
Ruthcnbpck. F. C. Ahrens. Ferdinand Mllbnith.
C. F. Uossow. G.- B. McMurtry. S. R. Dubetz.
Fred \V. Eder. John FivdiTlekson. Joseph F.
Golllko. Henrv Hohensteln. Charles Wlnzer.
■William A. Bleter. E. J. Grimes. F. J. Stcnzel.
C. R. J. Kellam. J. F. LIcpold and F. A. Cooley.
"The notice was signed by \V. C. Portmann.
Henry Cook. H. G. .Xnderson. I.ouls Iverson.
John!-. Dunn. W. D. Hunter. H. H. Bcrge. M.
D .\shlev. O. M. Ashley. Dan McNamarn. Jos-
eph Smvkal. l.eon Davis. Harry Sandon. Charles
L Coll.V. John I.. King. W. E. Manchester. P.
C Nelsim. A. C. Serum. C. \V. Withers. Ray-
monil Biirloseh. F. J. Hruby, J. S. FIddes and
A. H. Strong.
"I'nder the law. sixty per cent of the num-
ber who voted at the last general election must
in the early part of the contest v*as t<i
prevent people favorable to Jackson from
signing the Lakelield petition. "Refusr
to sign the petition," was the slogan. "If
vflu refuse to sign, there will be no vote."
.\i\ agreement, of no legal standing, how-
ever, was drawn up and circulated for th'
signatures of those who would agree not i"
sign the Lakelield petition, and many s-
bound themselves."
The workers for each town dccland
their intentions ot conducting an honor-
able campaign, but each seemed to think
ijic other side was not going to. Early
in the campaign — on January 30 — the
people of Lakelield olVered a reward of
three liundred dollars for evidence that
would lead to the conviction of any par-
ties for bribery or corrupt practice in the
election, the offer being signed by many
of the leading men of Lakefield. The
people of Jackson countered by proposing
ihal the people <d" each town deposit five
hundred dollars in a Windom bank, to be
paid on the order ol the district jud-.
after the conviction of anyone for briiieiv
or corruption in connection with the con-
test. There were ivi lonvictions.
.Vgaiii Lakelield (dlercd its city hall for
court house uses if the removal should he
accomplished. This was done by resolu-
tion of the village council February ■>.
The building was offered for a term of
ten years at an annual rental of one dol-
slgn the petition In order to bring the (lueatlon
to a vote. .\t the general election In Unit thti.
had been ca.st .1.055 votes; therefore il was ii. ■
essary for l.S:;i legal voters t» sign the p.ii
tlon liefore the commissioners were autboriZ' I
to call an election ami submit the iiuestloti.
"The agreement was as follows:
"In view of the fact that Jackson e.iunly hi'
alreadv bail three eontests for tbi' removal ••<
the county seat to l.aketleld. and that such coii-
te.<its are a cause of heavy expensi' to the tax-
pavers of the county and stir up strife, en-
geiider bitter feelings and ti-nd to demoralize
the people, we, the undersigned, legal voters
of Jackson countv. Minnesota, hereby state
that we are not in fav ir of another comity .seal
contest and for that reason we hereby pi>om-
ise and agree with each other that we will not •
sign a iietitlon for th- ihange of the county
seat, notice of the intention to circulate whiih
is now being published.
"Dated Jannar>- 29, 1906,"
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
183
Inr, with privilege of renewal for another
ten year period at the same price. Pri-
vate parties also agreed that "if the vaults
in the above mentioned building are not
sufficient to contain all the records of said
Jackson county, wo will build onto the
a!)Ovc mentioned building additional
vaults, fire-proof and water-proof, neces-
sarv for the use of the officers of Jack-
son county, Minnesota, without any cost
to Jackson county.'"' This oifer was char-
acterized as l)ribery by the opposing work-
ers, and authorities were cited to show
that sncli an offer constituted hriliery of
the voters.
The Lakcficld workers covered all parts
of the county in their campaign for sig-
natures. The newspapers waged a mnd-
slinging campaign, full of personalities,
and charged rank corruption and irregu-
larity on the part of the opposing forces.'"
On Mai'ch 30 the Lakefield workers com-
]ileted their campaign and filed the peti-
tion with the countv auditor. It con-
'■■'The offer was .signed by J. M. Putman. S. R.
Dubetz. Thomas Crawford, C. B. Edwards. H.
M. Clark. Fred W. Eder. R. .-Vrtman. G. R. \'an
Dike. A. Jackson. H. A. Rhodes. George Mil-
burn. .\. Bettin. E. Schumacher. A. J. Sparks.
Gilbert Rue. M. McGlin. Hans J. Hauge. J. G.
Hellen. .\ugust Blankenburg. Sr.. R. D. Pietz.
J W. Daubnev. E. Erickson. Emil Zarling. Hen-
rv .\lbers. .Albert .Armstrong. E. E. Collins. C.
M. Gage. L. J. Britsch. George J. Britsch. C
M. Tradewell. Ross W. Daubney. Joseph Kolash.
E. Lewis. James D',-\rcy. J. A. Anderson. L. K.
.\nderson. John G. Gage. George Payne. Martin
Dahl. Lars J. Johnson, William Lockner. Jos-
eph J. Jones. William Frees. J. W. Crisman.
Andrew J. Johnson, F. R. Hansen, Lo Fader,
John Frederickson. Edward Kolander. A. L.
Baehus. D. Crawford. J. A. Mansfield. H. L.
Bond. B. Weppler. B. W. Payne. M. B. Hotstad.
J. G. Christie. John G. MiUer. J. C. Caldwell.
H P. Thompson. Joseph F. Golitko. A. A. Fos-
ness. William Hecht. Claus Wiese, .\ugust
Lockner. G. B. McMurtry, Henry Comnick. Au-
gust Blankenburg. Charles Blankenburg. F. F.
Rilev. William Rost. .A. M. St. John. O. Thore-
son. E. p. Maldaner. Ed. .\rnold. J. A. Leven-
ick. S. Searles. John McGlin. E. A. Gage. George
Winzenburg. George .\. Wesner. Z. M. Turner.
John Grein. D. L. Riley. A. S. Foslie. Herman
Schnltz. James Rost. F. B. White. H. P. Stone.
C. .\. Bell. Henry Tank and G. H. Wood.
"Said the Jackson County Pilot on February
22: "Well founded reports of men known not
to be yoters being urged and in many instances
induced to sign the petition for removal are
common. In several instances men have de-
liberately been made intoxicated and while in
'that condition induced to sign. Bulldozing
seems to be a favorite method and has become
so common as to almo.st cease to excite com-
ment."
tained the names of 3,000 persons — 339
more than the sixty per cent recjuired by
law to bring the matter to a vote. April
y was the date set for the consideration of
the petition by the county board.
With the filing of the petition came the
campaign of the Jackson workers to se-
cure withdrawals from the petition. '''
They also went to all parts of the count}'
in their efforts to secure enough with-
drawals to beat the petition. These work-
ers were openly charged with bribery by
the press favorable to Lakefield.'*
When the board of county commission-
ers met on April 9 to act on the petition
intense excitement prevailed ; the nerves
of everyone were at high tension. George
W. Somerville appeard before the board
for the petitioners and T. J. Knox and
H. H. Dunn for the contestants. The
''The withdrawal is a legal document provid-
ed for in the county seat removal law. It is
acknowledged before a notar.v public, justice of
the peace or other public official, and when pre-
sented to the county board at the consideration
of the original petition removes the name of
the signer from the petition. After the with-
drawal is presented it may be revoked by the
proper legal procedure. Following was the form
used by Jackson in this contest:
"Having heretofore signed the petition pray-
ing that the county seat of Jackson county,
Minnesota, be changed to the village of Lake-
field in said county, the circulation of which
petition was begun on or about February 13,
1906, I desire to and do withdraw my name
from said petition and request the county board
of said county to strike my name therefrom,
and I hereby authorize to appear
for me before the county board of commission-
ers of said county and in my name and stead
and as my attorney but without expense to me,
to withdraw and strike my name from said
petition and to act in and about said matter as
fully to all intents and purposes as I could do
if personally present, hereby ratifying and con-
firming all that my ,said attorney shall do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
"Witness mv hand this day of
1906,
"Witnessed by "
"Said the Lakeiield Standard: "The Jackson
workers are out through the country using the
most dishonest tactics to get the yoters to
withdraw their names from the petition. If you
know of anyone who has been induced by Jack^
son's dishonest tactics to sign a withdrawal,
bring him to Lakefield AT ONCE, or let us
know who it is. so he can have a chance to
sign a paper putting his iiame back on the
petition. . . . Out in Round Lake township
the Jaci<son canvassers have tried to make the
signers of the Lakefield petition believe that it
is against the law to pay more than five dol-
lars for withdrawals. We have consulted the
revised statutes, but can find no such provis-
ion."
184 HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
attonu'vs lor the people of Jack- tract lor tlie new court house. On tli.'
son offered to prove fraud and l)rihery in !>tli of May a resohstioji was passed l.y
ohtaininj; signatures to tiic i)etition and the hoard to advertise for bids for tlie
revocations of withdiawals; tlie attorney ere-tion of the building iu accordance
for Lakelield offered to prove fraud and «ith the plans selected, the bids to he
bribery in securing witi!<lrawals. Hut opened June. 11. On that date, there be-
this evidence was not introduced, tlie ing no satisfactory bids, the board rea.l-
board ruling that it had power only to vertised for bids, to be openc^d July 9. Be
consider those matters committed to its fore the new bids were opened the conn-
consideration by the statute and that it again took a hand in the proceeding,
had not power to consider matters not so Oii June 9 papers were served on the
defined.'" For one >\eek the boan! was in hoard of county commissioners, giving no-
scssion determining the standing of the tiee of injunction proceedings, brought in
])etition. Five hundreil twelve names tbe name of John Nestrud. asking that
they be forbidden to let the contract for
the erection of a court house. The ea>'
came to trial June 2."> i)efore Judges Jaim -
H. Quinn and Lorin Cray, sitting tn-
gcthei-. In a decision dated June 2!> anil
tiled July 5 tiie injunction was dissolved,
the court holding tlial the commissioner-
would not be exceeding their rights in
proceeding with the building of a court
iiouse or any part of it. .so long as i\u\
did not make the pecuniary liability ■■;
the county exceed .$2;i.00(l. the am<iunl
then available for the purpa-;e: that be-
yond that aiiiouni lliey could not ccnitract
until miu-e funds were available.
Court bouse building and county simi
removal matters were eomidieated at tin-
st.ige of the procc^'dings by llie temporary
suspension from office of Commissioner
Henry (!. .Vnderson. ("barges were (iUhI
againsi Mr. .\ndei.-on before (;r)vernor
Jolm .\. .lolmson i.n .lulv .".,-- and tlio
were stricken from the jietition for va-
rious reasons,-" leaving 1,.")48. or ^TS less
than the sixty per cent of voters as re-
ipiired l)y law. The roniini.ssioners denied
tlie ]iraver of the petiticmers ; another
county seal contest was ended.
No sooner did it liecome evident tiiat
the petition would (ail before the board
of county commissioners than steps were
taken to circulate a new petition anil re-
open the contest. Official notice to this
etTect was given \\m\ IS. it being an-
nounced that the jietition would be cir-
culated beginning not earlier than May 7
nor later than May 9.=' While this new
petition was being circulated during the
months of ;May and Juno the county
board was taking steps to let the c(ui-
"Spotlon 3»S revised code reads as follows:
■•Dulles of the roimt>- board at the time and
place speiltUd in the notice, proof of its service
havlnK been liUil: the board shall meet to act
on said petition and shall in.iaire ami deter-
mine which, if any. i>f the sinners thereof were
not. at the time of siKoiiiB tiie sjimc. legal
voters of said count.v. and which, if any. of the
sienatures thereto were not attached within
«ixtv days preceding the tilliiB thereof; and
which If any. have been wllhilrawn. all snch
slKnatures shall be stricken from the petition
iind deducted from the count, and a list there-
of certltled by the board, shall be filed forth-
with with the county auditor. . . ."
=»These 512 names stricljen off were tabulated
as follows: 1!« duplicate siitnatures. 22S with-
drawals. 8S minors, non-residents and aliens. 1
woman.
"The notice was signed by John Nestrud. G.
T. Juveland. ll.-rman I'ohlman. N. A. Johnson.
Jan S'tinar. John Koch. John M. Hovelsrud. F.
F. Murphv. B. M. Hovelsrud. Ole O. Sandager.
Tronil O. Trondson. B. V. Elverum. W. 1.. Frost.
Wilhelm Hohenstein. .\ugust Hubner. Matt
Gentrv. .Vxel Sandberg and C. F. Rossow.
=^Jackson people contended that the IllitiB "f
the charges against Mr. .Vndersoa was a ilc-
liberate attempt on the part of l.akefield to at-
tain advantagi's which the court denied them.
The Republic on July 13 .said:
".Vfter the Ijikerteld county seat removHl
schemers failed in Iheir ambition to induce the
courts to interfere by injunction to prevent the
building of a new c<uirt house, they proceeded
to carry out a prearranged scheme to carry
the matter before the governor and under the
guisi- of lUlng charges againsi County ("ommls-
sloner H. (i. Anderson, and securing his tem-
porarv susp.usicui from office until after the reg-
,il:ir Julv meeting of thi- county l)oard and
the meeting called for July 23 to consider and
act upon the second removal i"iitiMn they at-
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
183
same day the governor suspended Mr. An-
derson, pending the determination of the
iliarges in a final hearing August 1. On
.Inly G a delegation went from Jackson
to St. Paul and interviewed the governor,
with the result that the state executive
revoked his order and reinstated Mr. An-
derson. At the hearing of the Jackson
county officer before Commissioner Pow-
er.s on July 13 the proceedings were dis-
missed on tlie motion of George W. Som-
erville. Lakefield's attorney.
The l)ids for the construction of the
court house were opened July 9. Charles
Skooglum, of St. Paul; was the successful
bidder, his bid for the building complete
being $91,082. Because of tlie injunction
of the court not to contract for a greater
sum than was available in cash for the
jnirpose, the commissioners let the con-
tract only for the fonndation, up to and
including the water table, the bid for this
part of the building being $10,330.=^ July
10 another levy for conrt house purposes
of $13,000 was made. The work of tear-
ing down the old court house was begun
July 2.5, the county officers utilizing the
Jackson city liall for offices. Excavation
work for the new building was begun Sep-
ten;!ber 4.
Before the court house program had
lieen carried tliis far, however, the last
county seat contest liad been brought to
a close. The county scat removal people
fded their petition July 3. It contained
1,881 names — sixty more than the num-
ber required by law. The date of consid-
ering the petition was July 23. The Jack-
son forces again canvassed the county for
withdrawals and were successful in se-
tempted and nearly succeeded in ending the
decision of the court and securing tlie same re-
sults that they attempted to secure in their
injunction suit."
^Owing to failure to post the proper notices,
the letting of the contract was found to be in-
valid. Bids were again called for. and on .Au-
gust IS a new contract was entered into with
Charles Skooglum on a bid of $10,225 for the
foundation.
curing more than enough to defeat the
petition.
At the meeting of tiie county board on
July 23 to detcrniinc tlie sufficiency of the
petition Attorneys J. A. i\lansfield and
Ole Thoreson i-epresented Lakefield and
Attorney T. J. Knox represented Jackson.
The work of striking names from the
petition because of withdrawals was con-
tinued until the 24th. Then it was an-
nounced tliat 106 names had been taken
off, leaving 1,775 on the petition — not
enough to warrant bringing the question
to a vote. ProceeJirgs were discontinu-
ed. The twenty years county seat war
was at an end.
There not being enough funds available
to complete the court house Iniilding, on
January 7, 1907, the county commission-
ers decided to again put the question of
issuing bonds to the people.-' The special
election was held Febnuiry 19, the ques-
tion at issue being the issuance of $65,000
worth of bonds. A majority of 129 in
favor of the proposition was given, the
precincts voting as follows :
PRECINCT
For
Bonds
Against
Bonds
Alba
■"87
70
4
135
126
18
34
90
6
111
27
154
2
20
39
7
12
100
434
2
18
9
41
65
52
35
87
7
5
70
(i6
142
(i
86
1
64
4
119
29
39
77
81
3
16
227
121
14
3
1419
Christiania
Delafield
Des Moines
Ewington
Hunter
Heron Lake Twp ...
LaCrosse
Middletown
Minneota
Rost
Round Lake
Weimer
West Heron Lake
.Jackson .
Lakefield
Heron Lake Vil
Wilder
Alpha
Total
1.548
='A similar resolution was passed July 25,
11
186
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
From that time all was smooth sailing.
Contracts were let April 16, 1907, as fol-
lows: Charles Skooglum, court house
above basement, $7-J,438; Cuddy & Cav-
anaugh, lieating plant and plumbing,
$7,317; Nemis & Nemis, electrical work,
$740; Diebold Safe & Lock company,
vault doors and shutters, $1,700. March
3, 1908, a contract was let to Crown Elec-
trical Manufacturing company for elec-
tric light fixtures, on a bid of $1,475.
This brought the contract price up to a
little less than $100,000. When the build-
ing was finally completed and furnished
the total cost, excluding sidewalks, was
$117,43.5.32."
The corner stone of the court house was
laid with ceremonies July 9, 1907, United
State Senator Moses E. Clapp and Hon.
T. J. Knox being the principal speakers.
1906, but on the same day the resolution was
revoked.
=^Statement of cost made by Henry G. An-
derson, chairman of the board of county com-
missioners, at dedication. June 22. 1909.
The building was finally completed early
in 1909 and the dedicatory exercises werf
held June 22, 1909. The dedicatory ad-
dress was delivered by Judge P. E. Brown
and the other speakers were Judge James
ir. Quinn, T. .1. K\\o\ and Henry 0. An-
derson.
The events of the last few years of
Jackson county's histoiy can be told in a
few words. For thice or four years fol-
lowing 1903 the cumparative dull times
continued. Then came better times. A
bountiful crop was rai.sed in 1907, good
prices prevailed, and the financial flurry
that fall caused no anxiety among the
people of Jackson cr,\in(y. .V good crop
was raised in 1908, and in 1909 the most
bountiful harvest of a decade was gather-
ed. The year 1910 opens witli the people
of Jackson county liappy, contented and
])rosperous. They inhabit the best county
the bright light of heaven ever shown
upon.
thenewyopk
\P^BUC LIBRARY
z
:3
y.
•r.
CHAPTER XIV.
POLITICAL— 1858-1882.
JACKSON county's political history
covers a period of time from 1858 to
tlie present, excluding the years 1863
to 1865. The county was organized in
1858 and its organization continued until
tlio Siou.x massacre of 186"2 ; then the
county became deserted and, of course,
the government was discontinued. The
second organization was brought about in
1865 and has continued without interrup-
tion to the present.
As has been stated before, very little is
known of the first organization or of the
government under tliat organization. With
only a few exceptions, all its records have
been destroyed, and there is no one now
living wlio was intimate enough with the
local political affairs of that day to give
us any reliable data; we must content
ourselves with the meager records that
have been saved.
When the first settlers came and found-
ed the Springfield settlement they were
under the local government of Brown
county, but there is no evidence to show
that these pioneers had any county busi-
ness to attend to, and it is doubtful if the
county officials at New Ulm, the county
seat, even knew of the exi.stence of the lit-
tle settlement on tlie extreme southern
edge of their county. The act of the leg-
islature of May 23, 1857, created Jackson
county and removed it from tlie jurisdic-
tion of Brown county.
There were only a few residents of
Jackson county at the time of its crea-
tion, and no effort was made to bring
about its organization until some time in
1858. Then the people of the new coun-
ty chose John B. Fish, Alexander Wood
and a Mr. Britton to act as commissioners
to perfect the organization under the act
of 1857. But that act had provided that
the governor should name the commis-
sioners, and the state official did not rec-
ognize the commissioners named, but ap-
pointed others, and these, in turn, named
the other county officers, and the political
machinery of Jackson county was started.
Who the first officers of the county were
is unknown; in fact, tlie names of only a
few of the officers under the first orsrani-
zation are known.
The first election was held in the fall
of 1858, when a full set of county officers
was chosen, who succeeded those holding
office by appointment. Of these officers
the name of only one is known — Charles
W. Clark, the sheriff.^ By the time the
presidential election of 1860 came, there
were thirty-two electors in tlie county
'Jackson county order No. 89, dated Septem-
ber 9, 1862. a short time after the massacre,
was for $28.50 and ^as drawn in favor of
Charles W. Clark "for services as sheriff of
said county for 1859."
187
188
HISTORY OF JACKSONT COUNTY.
who voted (out of a total populiitiou of
181) — and all were cast for Abraliam Lin-
coln for jirc^ridcut.- Tiie polling place was
at (he village of llelniont, which (lieu
served as the coun(y seat. \ full
set of county olTiccrs was chosen at
thai time, including the following:
II. i?. Trobridgc. chairman of the
hoard of county coniniissioncrs; Edward
Davies, commissioner; Simon Olson, com-
missioner; Stiles JI. West, sheriiT (al-
Ihongh he was only nineteen years of
age) ; ('. 0. Whitney^ clerk of llic hoard;
and James E. Palmer, assessor of Danby
township. Those officers, according to a
sera]) of record preserved, were serving
during the summer of 18(il. The same
record would indicate that the following
were (he election officers for the 18(j0
election: U. M. West, H. \l. Trobridge,
James E. Palmer, B. ]\IcCarthy and ('. 0.
Whitney, judges; Edward Davies and C.
(). Whitney, clerk.-. .\notlier election
seems to have been held in IStil, for dur-
ing the months of Xovembcr and Decem-
ber of that year bills were paid to (^le
Burreson and .Tosepii Thomas lor ser-
vices as judges of election, and to S. T.
Johnson as clerk of election. During
18()2 Joseph Thomas was county auditor
and Olo Peterson was treasurer.
When the massacre occurred in .\ugust,
18(!2, (he countv officers tied with the
other settlers, and their records were eith-
er lost or destroyed. At the time of the
attack the treasurer buried the county's
money in the timber and fled without it.
However, he returned at night and secured
i(. From that time until late in the fall
of 180.5 (when there were 2.3-1 people in
Jackson county, according (o the census
of that year) the residents of the county
were without loial government.
15i'foic t:ikin'_' up till storv of the scc-
=Simi'M nisiin in J.Tiksmi li.-piil'Hi', August L'1,
1891. Stiles M. \Ve.>!t.
ond organization, let us consider (he icg-
islativi^ history of Jackson counfy.
Under the legislalive appor(iounien( of
18G0 (lie counties of Faribault, llartin,
Jackson. Cottonwood, Nobles, Pipestone,
Rock and a jjart of Brown were made (o
form (he (wentieth district, entitled to
one senator and one meml)er of (he hoibe.
The district was so coiistitutcd until iJStiC)
anil was represen(ed iiy the following leg-
ishUors:
IStil Sonalc. I.wy K. (■j.'vciaiiil: liinisi". .\.
Stiocl<er.
18(52- Senati'. Ciiv l\. (Ii'vi'lanil : liiiiisi-. H.
(). Kciiipfcr.
ISIi.i Si'iiatc. I), i;. Sliill.uU; liotis.-. .1. It,
Wakili.-jil.
ISill Sciial.'. 1). C. Sliilli.ck; li.iusr. .f. A.
I.a timer.
l,Sli.">- Senate. I), i;. .Sliilloi-k ; lioii-e. J. A.
l\iosler.
lS(i(i .S,-iiate, I). C. Sliilloek: liou^e. .1. II,
WaUelield.
.\ sliglit change was made in district
No. 20 in 18(i(i, i( being then made (o coiu-
prise the counties of- Faribault, Martin,
Jackson, Pottonwood, Murray. Pi|>estone
and Rock,'' and entided to one senator
and one representative. Tlii- ,ippoi|ion-
meni was in force until ISTl. I'ndcr it
the district was represented as follows:
ISliT -Senate, .J. H. Wakeliel.l: Imiise. A.
.\nilie\v.<.
lSt!.S- Senate. .1. 1!. Wakelield: lioiise. A. H.
C<ilti>n.
ISCll S-nate. .1. U. Wakelield: lion>e. .7, \V.
Hunter.
1S7I1 Senal.'. .1. .\. I.atinier: lnuise. .\1. K, I-.
Sliaiiks,
1S71 -Senate, C. U". ■JlionipMUi; Inni-e. .A, I..
Patelien.
In 1871 the counties of Martin, Jack-
son, Nobles, Rock, Watonwan, Cotton-
wood, ^lurfay and Pipestone were forniod
into the tliirty-eighlh district and so re-
mained until 1881. The district was giv-
en one senatcu- and (hree reprcscn(a(ivef
and was served by the following gentle-
U'cn :
1S7-2 -Sinale. \\ illiaui 1). IJiee: liouae. K.
Iterry, W W. Murpliy. (;eor;ie (', Clinnilierlin.
"N'llibs iiiiintv is not nanieil in this «i)|>or-
tlonmont, but It became a part nf the district.
IlISTOliY OF .lACKSOX COUNTY.
189
1S73— Senate, William D. Rice: liouse, J. \\ .
Seager, E. Berry, Sleplieii Miller.
1.S74 — Senate, E. P. Freeman; house, J. F.
Daniels, Ole 0. How, N. H. Manning.
1875 — Senate, E. P. Freeman; house, Charles
!•'. Crosby, E. Berry, Thomas Rutledge.
1S7G — Senate, I. P. Durfee; house, J. A.
Everett. Lee Ilensley, W. H. Mellen.
1877 — Senate. 1. P. Durfee: hou.se. H. N.
Kiel'. Lee Hensley. C. H. Smith.
1878— Senate. C. H. Smith: liouse, Frank A.
Dmv. L. H. Bishop, Alexander Fiddes.
1S7'.I — Senate, A. }). Perkins; house, M. E.
L. Slianks, T. Lambert, P. J. Kniss.
ISSl — Senate, A. D. Perkins; house, J. A.
Armstrong. W. D. Rice. P. J. Kniss.
I'lic ajipiirtiiiiiiniiit oE 1881 created
.lacksnn and ^lartin counties into the sixth
district, entitled to one memlier of each
house. Tliev remained in tliis district un-
til 18;)9 and were represented as follows:
1883— Senate. H. M. Ward; liouse. J. E.
riiild.
]SS.>— Senate. R. J[. \\'ard; house. Alexan-
ilcr Fiddes.
1887 — Senate. Frank A. Day; house, E. Se-
vatson.
1880— Senate. Fraid< A. Day; house. E. Se-
vatson.
Jackson and Cottonwood counties were
made to form the eighth district in 1889,
and that district was represented as fol-
lows ;
1SI11 — Senate, E. Sevatson; house, Henry F.
Tucker.
1803 — Senate, E. Sevatson: house. .Tolin
Paulson.
1S0.> — Senate, E. Sevatson; house, E. .J.
Meilicke.
1SII7 — Senate, E. Sevatson; house. Ceorge iL
T.;iin^.
The present foiii'tcenth dislrict, com-
|iiising Jackson and Cottonwood counties,
was formed in ISOT, is entitled to one
seiuitor and two representatives, and has
heeu represented hy the following:
1899— Senate, E. J. Meilicke; house, D. L.
liiley. .John E. .Johnson.
1901— Senate.. E. J. Meilicke; house, D. L.
Uilcv, W. A. Potter.
inns— Senate. W. A. Smith; house, A. M.
Schroeder, .J. D. Schroeder.
190.5— Senate, W. A. Smith: house, L. O.
'i'cigen. R. H. .JeflFerson.
1907— Senate, H. E. Hanson; Ikiu.-c. Charles
Winder. R. H. .Jefl'erson.
1909 — Senate, H. E. Hanson; house. John
Baldwin, D. A. Stuart.
In the fall of 186.j the population of
llie unorganized county of Jackson had
reached nearly three Inmdred people, and
])rospects for a large immigration the fol-
lowing year were so good that steps were
taken to hring about a reorganization un-
der the original act of 1857. Another rea-
son that led to the undertaking at that
time was the desire of the voters to par-
ticipate in the state and district elec-
tions that fall. Upon the petition of the
residents, Governor Stejjhen ^Miller ap-
pointed Israel F. Eddy, Charles Belknap'
and Jared Palmer commissioners, vested
witli authority to call an election for No-
vember 7, 18()."). for liie purpose of choos-
ing county officers and of voting for state
and district officers. These commission-
ers were not to net as a law-making body ;
their duties were simply to call and pre-
side over the first election.
Events so shaped themselves that elec-
tion day very nearly passed without an
election being held. So isolated was this
settlement in Jackson county that it ac-
tually did not know the date of the gen-
eral election, and only for a fortunate cir-
cumstance were the people of the new
county kept from being disfi'anchised. Ma-
jor 11. S. Haily has written of this circum-
stance:
but instead of calling the election
for t]ie 7th, as the governor directed, they
called it fcM- the 17th of November. I hap-
pened to go down to Winnebago City in the
first week in November and learned that out
in civilization the election was to be held on
Tuesday, the 7th. T arrived home on Satur-
day evening, the 4th. On Sunday I went to
see Mr. Eddy and asked his authority for call-
ing the election for the 17th. and he replied
that the governor directed it. He brought the
governor's letter and was surprised to find
that lie had read it wror.g. So on Monday he
went through the settlement and notified the
voter.s that there would be an election the
next day.
'Major H. S. Bailov, in an article written in
ISSS, .stated that I. N. Belknup was the com-
missioner; the recnrcls show that Charles Bel-
knap served as judge of the election, indicating
that he was the commissioner.
l',)0
IIISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
^lauy tlitricultio;; beset these pioneers iu
tlii'ir clforts to organize the county. The
election was to be liekl at the home of
.Tared Palmer, who liveil on a farm a-short
distance soutli of the jjrescut village of
Jackson. When it came time for the open-
ing of tlie polls, Jfr. Eddy, one nf the com-
missioners, was absent. In his place Jla-
jor H. S. Bailey was chosen by the other
commissioners to act as one of the judges;
W. C. Garratt was selected clerk of the
election board. In the whole of Jackson
county there was not a man who had au-
thority to administer an oath, and the
judges were confronted with the serious
question of how to qualify. Some time
previoTis Major Bailey had held the office
of justice of the peace in another county,
and he took the responsibility of swear-
ing in the other two judges and dork of
election, although he had no legal authori-
ty lo do so. One of the other judges then
administered the oath to JIajor Bailey.
No convention had been held, no can-
vass made, and the election was a quiet
affair. Thirty-.six votes were cast and the
following officers elected: H. S. Bailey,
Simon Olson and M. S. Clongh, county
commissioners; Clark Baldwin, auditor;
William Webster, treasurer; W. C. Gar-
ratt, register of deeds; Orin Belknap,
judge of probate; I. V. Eddy, shcrilf;
James E. I'alnier, surveyor; John McCor-
mick, county attorney; Joseph Price, clerk
of court; Peter Baker, coroner.
After the cleciion the question of what
to (lo with the returns arose. No pro-
vision had been made for canvassing the re-
turns or issuing certificates to the success-
ful candidates. There was no person in
Jackson county authorized to do so, and,
as the county had once been organized, it
was now attached to no other county, the
officers of which might perform this ser-
vice. It was finally decided to send the
returns to Martin county, and Major
Bailey was chosen to take them to the
county officials at Fairmont. The auditor
of Martin county, Galiten Brown, at first
refused to accept them, but he was per-
suaded to do so, and Jackson county's vote
for state and district officers was counted.
Tlic auditor, however, refused to issue
certificates of election for the new offi-
cers of Jackson county, believing that
such a course would be exceeding his au-
thority.
There was nothing to be done but wait,
and the formal organization of the county
was postponed until there had been leg-
islative action. James B. Wakefield, wlm
had been elected to the lnwcr luauih
of the legislature, was informed of the
situation, and he promptly introduced a
liill to legalize the election of November
T and to authorize the auditor of Mar-
tin county to issue the necessary certifi-
cates. The bill was passed and became
effective in .Tanuary, ISOfi, being among
the first bills passed by the ilinnc^ota
law making body that session. Upon re-
ceiving notice of the passage of this bill
Ifajor Bailey made another trip to Fair-
mont, took the oath of office as commis-
sioner, and brought back with him the
election certificates of the other officers.
So, after many discouraging setback^.
everything was in readiness for the formal
beginning of county government. The first
meeting of! the l)oanl of county conunis-
sioners was luhl at tiie home of Jlajni-
11. S. Bailey, dated Des Moines, Minnesota,
on January 27, ISCC. ]\Fajor Bailey pre-
sided as chairman. The (Uily business
transacted at this initial nu'cting was the
ajipoinlmcnt of a few officers "to fill va-
cancies of the officers not yet qualified."
Nearly all the officers elected took the
oath and entered u])on their duties, but
a few did not, William Webster, who had
been elected treasurer, refused to have
anything to do with so responsible an
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
191
office, and F. E. Lyman was appointed
to the position, holding the office two
years under the appointment. Joseph Price
did not qualify as clerk of court, and B.
H. Jolmson was appointed to the office.
Peter Baker did not qualify as coroner,
and Jared Palmer v.as named.
There were but few duties for many of
these first county officials, and some of
them had absolutely no duties during their
entire term. One blank book was piir-
chased for county use, and that sufficed
for all the records. The principal duties
fell upon the county commissioners, Clark
Baldwin, the auditor, wlio drew a salary
of $50 for his services for 1866; I. F.
Eddy, the sheriff; James E. Palmer, the
surveyor, who took the oath of office Feb-
ruary 12, 1866 ; W. C. Garratt, the regis-
ter of deeds, who gave bond on February
23, 1866 ; and the justices of the peace,
H. S. Bailey, Martin D. Metcalf and Si-
mon Olson, who took their oaths early in
April.
The second meeting of the board of
county commissioners was held March 13,
1866, at which time the county was divid-
ed into three commissioner districts. The
first district was composed of the south-
ern tier of townships: the second, the tier
just north of it : the tliird district com-
prised the whole north half of the coiTnty.
When the division was made it was found
that all three of the commissioners were
from the same district. They continued
to serve, however, until the first of the
year 1867.
To choose new commissioners and a
few officers who were then elected in even
numbered years, provision was made for
holding an election on November G, 1866.
A county convention was held at Joseph
Thomas' hotel on the hill in September,
when a partial set of candidates was put
in nomination. At the election Eev.
Peter Baker,^ of Petersburg, was chosen
commissioner from the first distict;" B.
H. Johnson, of Des Moines, from the sec-
ond; and Simon Olson, of Belmont, from
the third. Mr. Johnson became chair-
man of the board and served during 1867
and 1868; Mr. Olson served a two year
term; Mr. Baker resigned after serving
less than one year and John Bichardson,
of Minneota, was appointed to fill the va-
cancy. Mr. Johnson's election as commis-
sioner caused a vacancy in the office of
clerk of court, and Joseph Price, who had
been elected in 1865 but had failed to
qualify, was named for that office. H. S.
Bailey was appointed "examiner of teach-
ers and visitor of schcmls" for the year
1867, and thus became the first superin-
tendent of schools for Jackson county, the
oft'ice not being an elective one at that
time.
As the majority of county officers were
chosen in odd-numbered years during the
early days, the election of November 5,
1867, was an important one, and many
="I well remember the first time I ever saw
that good man [Rev. Peter Baker]. Where,
friends, do you think it was. Actually presid-
ing at a political convention instead of a pray-
er meeting-. It was up at the old log hotel in
Jackson. I remember him as he sat by the
table — had on his blue army overcoat with
brass buttons, I presume all the coat he had
in the world. There were but four organized
towns in the county — Petersburg, Minneota. Des
Moines and Belmont. Major Bailey was mak-
ing the motions, the elder putting the questions,
and they were conducting the convention by
very fair parliamentary principles or rules. The
delegates occupied the chairs and benches, and
the rest of us stood up or sat on the floor. I
remember I sat flat upon the floor, close to
the muddled-up fireplace, when, imagine how
suddenly puffed up I became— actually nomi-
nated for county attorney of Jackson county.
Three weeks a resident of the county, and knew
just about as much of law as Allen of the Re-
public knows of theology: and Jackson county
at that time needed a county attorney about as
much as a Methodist minister needs a safe." —
George C. Chamberlin in speech delivered Sep-
tember 5, 1S89.
"In after years Rev. Peter Baker told of this
board (his memory failed him in regard to
some of the facts):
"As I was the first settler in the town of
Petersburg, I well remember when the county
was organized. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Wood and
myself were the first commissioners. As Mr.
Baldwin was auditor, we met at his house to
transact business. How wise and dignified we
'county dads' looked. I must confess that I
knew nearly as much about law as a horse
does about grammar."
192
IIISTOKY OF .lALKSUX COUNTY.
lU'W county olficors were cliosen. Those
elected were: tieorgc C. Cliainbcrlin, aii-
(iitor; Joseph Tlionias, treasurer; Joseph
S. Kiiton, ^ofri^te^ of tleed? ; Williiim V.
KiiifT, judue of probate; A. Miner, sheriif;
Jame-s E. Palmer, surveyor; W. S. Kini-
ball, clerk of court.
There were a few changes iu adminis-
tration during the ne.\t two years. George
C. Chamberlin resigned tlio office of au-
ditor October !), 1869, and M. A. Strong
was appointed to complete the slioit un-
e.xpired term.' Owing to the removal of
Joseph S. Eaton from the county, the of-
fice of register of deeds became vacant,
and Jojin \X. Cowing was appointed Sep-
tember 22, 1SC8, fo serve until the first
of the next year. William V. King served
by appointment as superintendent of
schools during ISfiS. and I'm. E. Savage
during ISG!).
M the election on November 3, 18G8,
an entire change was made in the board
of county commissioners. O. J. l?ussell
was elected from the first district; Nathan-
iel Frost, who served as chairman in 1869
and 1870, from the second : and P. P. llav-
erberg from the third. W. C. Garratt,
who had been the first register of deeds,
was chosen for that office at this election,
the election being held in an even num-
bered year on account nf the removal of
Joseph S. Eaton.
■Jlany new men took office at the begin-
ning of the year 1870 as a result of the
election of Novend)er 2, ISfiO. There were
two tickets in the field at that election,
and the result on some of the principal of-
fices was close. Those elecled were: M.
A. Strong, auditor; J. W. Hunter, treas-
urer; W. C. Garratt, register of deeds;
'There had been a contest between Mr.
Chamberlin and WilHam V. Klnft for the office
nf county auditor, which was tried under the
title. C'hamlierliii vs. KliiK The commissioner.'*
declared the office va.-ant March '>. isfis. and
appointed Mr. Kinc. but a little later Mr. rham-
herlln was sealed. On .Tune 27. ISfiS. Mr. King's
bill of JT'l.oO "for disbursements in cotii(>;tiiii,'
title to auditor's office" was allowed.
Anders Koe, sheriff; William V. King,
judge of i)robate; James E. Palmer, sur-
veyor; W. 8. Kiinliall. cliik of c.iurt; !'.
P. llaverlwrg, commissioner third dis-
trict. Of these otTicers, all served their
terms of two years except Anders Roe. He
resigned September .1. 1870, and A. E.
Wood wiLs appointed sheriff Septemlier Ki.
to serve until the first of the year. Of tln'
ajjpointive offices. Dr. C. P. Morrill wa>
chosen superintendent of schools January
4, 1870. rie served under the appoint-
ment until May 11, 1871, when he re-
signed : then William ^'. King was ap-
pointed and served nearly one year. J. W.
Seager was named county attorney liy iIk
commissioners February 1, 1870, to sei\'
the balance of the year. He resigned 1" -
fore that time, however, and on Septein-
ber 16, 1870, Emery Clark was ajipoinfi'l
and served under the appointment init^
he took the office at the beginning of ih.
year 1871 as a result of the election "f
1870. There having been previou.-;ly n-
court commissioner, G. K. TitTany wii-
appointed in May, 1870.
During the entire early political history
of Jackson county there was only one |in-
litical organization maintained, and U''
until 1886 was there organized oppo.^i-
tioii to it. Nearly all the first settlers W( n
republicans, as were the first settlere "f
all tiie neighboring counties. At most "f
the early day elections there were t«"
tickets in the field, one nominated by the
regular republican organization, the other
put up by bolters, the candidate's i)eing
eilher nominated in an independent con-
vention or ])laeed on the ticket by those
interested. Many exciting contest.* for
political honors occurred under this ar-
rangement. The few democrats generally
allied them.«elves with the independents
and were occasionally rewarded with a
county office.
fn 1870 the democrats formed an or-
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
193
ganizatioii and named candidates for a
(cw county offices, but the organization
was not made permanent. This was ac-
complished on July IG, 1870, when a few
(if tile minority met at Jackson. Milton
Mason was ehairnuni of tlie meeting and
J. J. Porter was secretary. Tlie follow-
ing county central committee was named :
1?. X. Woodward, of Wisconsin; George
]). Stone, of Petersburg; R. D. Lamed, of
Middletown: H. M. Doubleday, of Bel-
mont; I. A. iloreaux, of Minneota; J.
A. Myers and William Xorman. of Des
iloines.
At the 1870 election o!)3 votes were cast.
The republicans were successful in carry-
ing the county for congressional and leg-
islative officcis and elected their county
ticket with one excejition. The official
vote :
Congressman — ^1. If. Dunnell (rep.).
:!29; Daniel Buck (dem.), 04:
Senator— G. W. Whallon (rep.), -208:
C. W. Thompson (dcm.), 1().5.
Eepresentative — G. C. Chamberlin
(rep.), 2G5; A. L. Patchin (dem.), 102.
Sheriff— B. W. Ashley (rep.), 123;
ilichael Miller (dem.), TG : E. Sevatson
(ind.), 17G.
Clerk of Court— W. 8. KimbalP (rep.),
witliout opposition.
Court Commissioner — H. S. Bailey
(rep.), 274; Milton Mason (dem.), 98.
County Attorney — E. Clark" (rep.),
without opposition.
Coroner — A. E. \\'o(id, without opposi-
tion.
Commissioner First District — William
C. Bates'" (rep.), oO; George D. Stone
(dem.), 21.
"Clerk of court is elected for four year term.
Mr. Kimball resigned in 1874. and on October 7.
of that year. Alexander Fiddes was appointed
to complete the short i:nexpired term.
"County .Attorney CTark was arrested at Jack-
son February 17. 1871. and taken to Wisconsin
to answer the charges of forgery and jail
breaking.' He was exonerated and returned to
bis duties early in March. He served until Oc-
tober 4, 1871. when he resigned; his successor
was elected the next month.
There wa.s a large increase in tlie vote
in 1871, there being 531 votes polled. The
dominant party carried tlie state and leg-
islative tickets by overwdielming majori-
ties. In county politics there were sev-
eral close contests, although the organ-
ized party again elected all but one officer.
Nearly all the independent candidates
were republicans ; their names were placed
on the opposition ticket by their friends
and thev were not nominated in conven-
tion. The result according to the official
canvass :
Governor — Horace Austin (rep.), 447;
Winlhrop Y'oting (dem.), 48.
Senator— William D. Pice (rep.), 430;
C. C. Sylvester (dem.), 94; O. Nason, 7.
Eepresentative — G. C. Chamberlin
(rep.), 315; 0. Nason (dem.), 175.
.Vuditor— M. A. Strong (rep.), 3G0; L.
(). Beck (ind.), 1G2.
Trea.surer— J. \V. Hunter (rep.). 2G8;
E. P. Skinner (ind.), 243.
Eegister of Deeds — W. C. Garratt
(rep.), 309; J. A. Myers (ind.), 198.
County Attorney— William V. King,
(rep.), 234; G. K. Tiffany (ind.), 283.
Sheriff — Henry Knudson (rep.), 358;
C. H. Sandon (ind.). IGO.
Judge of Probalc — William Y. King
(rep.), 423; J. C. lloovel (ind.), G4.
Surveyor — J. M. Tanner" (rep.), 397;
James E. Palmer (ind.), li;.
Commiscsioner Second District — \\ . A.
Fields'" (i-ep.). 8^: J- "^^^ Tompkins, 15.
The political complexion of the coun-
tv at the time is well shown in the result
of the presidential election of 1872, when
out of a total of G20, Horace Greeley re-
ceived only 5G votes. For county offi-
ces there was no opposition to the re-
publican ticket. Tlie vole:
^''Was chairman in 1871-72-73.
"Resigned October. 1S72. and successor elect-
ed next month.
'-Was chairman during 1874.
194
mSTUlfV Ul" JACKSON LOL.NTY.
President— U. S. Grant (rep.), 5fi4 ;
Horace Greeley (dem.), oG.
Congressman — M. H. Dunnell (rep.),
56C: M. S. Wilkiasou (dem.). 33.
Eepre^entative — Stephen ililler (rep.).
283: JI. Anderson, 284."
County Attorney — (I. K. Tiffany (rep.),
607.
Coroner- — J. F. Force (rep.). (>13.
Survej'or — James E. Palmer (rep.),
508.
Commissioner Tliird District — Tlan;;
Knudson'* (rep.), 308; W. Jacobs, 14.
The opposition to the republican nia-
cliine liad gained such strength by 1873
that the organized party met with a par-
tial defeat in the election of that year.
The independents elected four of the prin-
cipal county officers and the other can-
didates gave a good account of them-
selves at the voting. Five hundred sixty-
five votes were polled, a slight falling
off from tlio last election. Following is
the vote each candidate received :
Governor — C. K. Davis (rep.), 47"> :
Ara Barton (dem.), 90.
Senator — E. P. Freeman (rep.), 552.
'Representative — X. H. Manning (rep.),
409: Warren Smith (dem.), IG.
Auditor— M. A. Strong (rep.), 197:
William V. King (ind.). 359.
Treasurer — Henry Knud.«on ( rep.) .
381: Clark Baldwin (ind.). Kl.
Slieriff— C. H. Sandon (rep.). T-U : A.
C. Scrum (ind.), 329.
"Register of Deed.s — Edward Orr (rep.).
240: W. C. Garratt (ind.). \->.0: Hans
Knudson (ind.), 20."i.
Surveyor— E. P. Skinner (rep.), 274;
James E. Palmer (ind.). 281.
Judge of Probate — John Davies"
(rep.). 559.
"Mr. Miller was elected.
"Was chairman during 1875.
"ReslKned January 7. 1S74. In June. 1S74. T.
J. Knox was appointed by Governor Davis to
complete the term.
(-'ourt Commis.sioner — John Davies
(rep.), 559.
Commissioner First District — J. W.
Dunn (rep.). 37; H. J. Phelps'« (ind.).
39.
Tiie grasshoppers and the prevailing
hard times had an effect on the politics
of tile county iu 1874. Owing to these
causes and the fact that only a few officers
were to be chosen, not a great deal of
interest was manifested, and there was
another falling off in the vote — 551 being
the highest number cast for any one of-,
tice. Two independents were elected ;
otherwise Tcpublicans were chosen for
county office. In place of the democratic
ticket, for congress and the legislature ap-
jieared tlic ticket of the anti-mono])oly
])arty. wliicli made a fair showing against
the repul)liean forces. The vote:
Congressman — ^I. H. Dunnell (rep.).
379; F. H. Waite (a-m). 1G4.
Judge Sixtli District— D. A. Dickinson
(rep.). 431: Daniel Buck (a-m), 120.
Senator— E. P. Freeman, 149; Neill
Curric, 112.
Ke])resentativc — Charles F. Crosby
(rep.), 34G; L. Aldrich (a-m). 166.
County .\ttorney — T. J. Knox (rep.),
239: William V. King (ind.), 308.
Court Commissioner — W. W. Hamilton
(rep.). 485.
Probate Judge — Henry Knudson (rep.),
.-.O."..
Clerk of Court — Alexander Fiddes
( lep.), 247 ; 0. A. Brown (ind.). 304.
Coroner— J, F. Force (rep.). 530.
Commissioner Second District — A. D.
Palmer'' (rep.). 82: William A. Fields
(ind.). 48.
Political conditions were unique in
1875. For several years many republicans
had refused to affiliate with the regular
party organization and had been responsi-
"Was chairman during 1876.
"Was chairman from July IB. 1877, to Jan-
uary 1, 1878.
HISTORY 0¥ JACKSOF COUNTY.
195
ble for the independent candidates that
made tlie race eacli year; in 1875 the
party organization refused to affiliate
with itself. After the committee on cre-
dentials of the republican county con-
vention. Avhich was Jield at Jackson in Sep-
tember, Jiad made its report, the conven-
tion broke ii]j in a row. without naming a
candidate. Tiie Jackson Kepublie, in its
report of the convention, said:
Upon that report commenced a disgraceful
and disreputable wrangle as to tlie admission
of a set of contesting delegates from several
towns, and as to who is the guiltj- party or
parties for this we for the present remain
silent. Suffice it to say that, after a long fight
over the admission of delegates, the conven-
tion adjourned sine die, and candidates are
free to go in on their muscle as independents.
From that time on it was each one for
himself, ilany announced themselves
as candidates for the several offices, no one
of whom had an organization back of him
or the prestige that goes with a party
nomination. Six hundred twenty-three
votes were cast — the largest number ever
voted in the county up to that time. The
republicans had their old time majorities
for state officers. ' Following is the vote .
C4overnor — J. S. Pillsbury (rep.), 563;
I). L. Buell (dem.), 52; R.' F. Humiston
(reform), 8.
Senator— I. P. Durfee (rep.), 568; G.
S. Thompson (reform), 54.^*
Representative — W. H. ilellen (rep.),
322; E. L. Browndl (reform), 290.
Auditor— AVilliam V. King, 358; G. B.
Franklin, 257.
Treasurer — Henry Knud.'^on, 436 ; Hans
Knudson, 183.
Register of Deeds— Edward Orr, 463;
W. H. Ashley, 156; Ira G. Walden, 4.
Sheriff— Jens J. Johnson, 293; Wil-
liam Rost, 147; H. A. Williams, 36: I.
A. Moreau.\, 78; John Richardson, 62.
"Mr. Durfee received a majority of the votes
in the district, but owing to the failure of
some of the county auditors to make return
to the .state authorities Mr. Thompson was
seated. Mr. Durfee began a contest before the
senate, and in January, 1876. was given the
seat by a unanimous vote.
(I'fP-),
Surveyor — James E. Palmer, 609.
Court Commissioner — Carl Hirdler,
419: Charles Winzer, 188.
Commissioner Third District — A. C.
Serum,'" 278; A. Quivili, 90; Charles
Winzer, 2.
Tlic presidential election of 187G was
a very (juict one in Jackson county, owing
largely to the hard times caused by the
grasshopper invasion. Only 591 votes
were cast. The result in figures :
President — Rutherford B. Hayes (rep.),
522; Samuel Tilden (dem.), 69.
Congressman — M. H. Dunnell
520; E. C. Stacy (dem.), 64.
Rcpre-sentative — C. H. Smith
474; B. N" Carrier (iud.), 97.
County Attorney — W. W. Hamilton
(rep.), 535.
Judge of Probate — W. A. Fields (rep.),
164: Anders Roe (ind.), 369; Hans Rolf-
son (ind.), 12.
Coroner — J. F. Force (rep.), 551.
Court Commissioner — G. R. Moore
(rep.), 498; A. H. Strong, 18.
Commissioner First District — A. B.
Stimson-" (rep.), 69: Jareb Palmer
(ind.), 25.
Five hundred forty-three votes were
polled in 1877. A few independent can-
didates made the race against the repub-
lican nominees. An independent com-
missioner and county treasurer were elect-
ed, there being no republican nominee for
the latter office. The official vote:
Governor — John S. Pillsljury (rep.),
512; William L. Banning (dem.), 31.
Senator— C. H. Smith (rep.), 437; W.
R. Bennett (dem.), 67.
Representative • — Alexander Fiddes
(rep.), 497; C. T. Clifford (dem.), 6.
Auditor— G. B. Franklin (rep.), 291;
William V. King (ind.), 251.
Treasurer — John Paulson (ind.), 314;
"Was chairman from Januarj; 1, 1877. to July
18; 1877, and during the year 1878.
^Was chairman during 1879.
l'J6
IIIS■|'(M;^ n|- JACKSON (Ol N I ^
Olo E. Olson (iiitl.). 1st ; Jareb Palmer
(iml.). 36.
Ki'jLfistcr of Doecls — Edward Orr (np.").
.vin.
SlierilT— .1. J. Joliiison {n'|).). :M2;
diaries llic-helson (iud.~). 117: V. TT.
Paulson (ind.), 18.
Surveyor — Jaines ¥.. 1 'aimer (lep.),
523.
Superintendent of Schools^' — ,1. F.
Force (rep.), 515.
fommissioner Second Pistriet — II. S.
liailev (rep.). 3:5: :\r. S. Barney (ind.), 9;
.loliii Cowing' (ind.), 34; C. P. Randall"
(iml.). IP.
In 1ST8 the republicans were a,i,'ain
jrenerally successful, electinjr the wliole
county ticket witli one exception. Five
liundred forty-.^ix votes were cast, and the
vote in detail was as follows:
('on<iressnian — Jf. II. Bunnell (rep.).
413: William Meiglien (deni.), 55.
Senator — A. D. Perkins (rep.), 533;
William V. King (greenback), 10.
l\epre.«entativo — P. J. Kniss (rep.),
47": J. TI. Brooks (greenback), 43; Wil-
liam v. King, 27.
County Attorney — E. Y). Brigg.< (rep.).
318; W. W. TTamilt(m (ind.), 22S.
('lri-l< (if Court — George \l. Mnore
(ic]).), 22S: E. \V. Davies (ind.), 2 15.
Judge of Probate — Simon Ol.-on (re|i.).
53(5.
Coroner — L. L. Tidball (re]i.), 53().
Commissioner yPliird District — Chris-
tian Lewis (re]).), SI : A. I'^ Kiicn (ind.),
IKi: Obed Omberson (ind.), 47; Ole Tol-
lefson (ind.). 52: Charles Winzer (ind.),
35.
There were indepcndciil candidates for
"The olTIci" of superlnlcMUlent of school.s liiul
now become :in elprtlvo one. Upon t]ie reslgrna-
llon of Wiin.im V. King ii.s siiiierintondeiil
Miireli 21!. 1S72. Dr. E. 1^. Hiownill hnd been
niMH>lnte<l and .served until tlie first tif the year
1876. Then Dr. J. F. Fone i-eeeived the ap-
pointment and served nnder the .appointment
until after this election of 1877.
==\Vas chairman during 1880.
most ot the county offices in 1H70, and
an interesting election wa.e the result.
There was a large increase in the vote, 802
ballot- being cast, altlKUigh the highest
number for any one olTice was 790. This
was a larger vote than that cast l)y any
other county of the thirly-cigbtii legisla-
tive district. With the exception of the
nominees for superintendent of schools
and county commissioner, the republican
titket was elected. The vote:
(iovernor — J. S. Pillsbury (lep.), 523:
Edmund IJice (deiii.), 00: Scattering, 12.
.Vuditor — \^'illiam \ . King (rep.), 528;
v.. !'. Skinner (ind.), 2(!7.
'I'lcasurer — dobn Paulson (rep.), 795.
Iiegister of Deeds — Edward Orr (rep.),
3S2 : Obed Omberson (ind.), 311: Sam-
ma LaPue (ind.), 97.
SlierilT — Cliarles Malchow (rep.). iS7:
:\liciKicl Miller (ind.), 30(;.
Suijerintendent of Schools — .1. F. Force
(rep.), 315: T. J. Knox (ind.), 408.
Surveyor — James E. Palmer (rc]).).
752.
Court Commissioner — 11. S. Bailey
(rej).), 753.
CoiiHiiissioncr l-'iist District — Peter
Baker (icp.), 24: II. W. Chandler (iml.).
37: Martin Eooiie find). :>i; : .I.ni'b
I'lilmiT (ind.). 22.
Tlic law provided that wlini a i-nmtv
pnllcil SIMI vdlis it should liav(< i'wv enun-
ty ciimmissioners. .\s that number had
been cast at the l.s;9 eli^etioii. tiic board
of .county commissioners, on July 23,
1880. redistricted the county in accord-
ance with that law. as f(dlows : No. 1.
I'ctcr.'burg, 'Middlclown, ^Minneota, Sioux
Valley and IJotind Lake: No. 2. Dcs
^[oim-i and Wisconsin; No. 3, Hunter,
1,'ost. luvington. .\lb.i. We>l Heron Lake
and Heron I^akc: No. I, La('ro.<se, Weiin-
er and Dclafield ; No. 5, Belmont, Cliri-s-
tiania, Kimball and Enterprise. .\t the
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
197
succeeding eiectiou an entire new set of
commissioners was elected.
There was aimtlu'r increase in the vote
.in 1880, and 914 votes were cormted for
presidential electors. In national politics
the coinitv was found to be again strongly
lepublican. In local politics the party
did not fare so well. Of the five com-
]nissionors elected, three were independ-
ents, and an independent was also elect-
ed judge of probate. The result:
President — James A. Garfield (rep.),
767; Winfield S. Hancock (dem.), 126;
James B. Weaver (greenback). 11.
Congressman — W. G. Ward (ind.),
1.54; H. R. Wells (dem.). 12.5; :\r. II.
Bunnell (rep.), 619.
Reiiresentative — P. J. Kniss (rep.),
270; M. A. Strung (peoples), 586.=^
Judge of Probate — W. W. Hamilton
(rep.), 355: Simon Olson (ind.), 517.
County Attiii'ney — J. I). Bowditch-^
(rep.), 845.
Court Commissioner — Jareb Palmer
(rep.), 857.
Coroner — E. P. Gould (rep.), 875.
Commissioner First District — H. W.
Chandler (rep.), 60; JMartin Logue
(ind.), 66.
Commissioner Second District — A. C.
Whitman-"' (rep.), 119; Joseph Thomas
(ind.), 79.
Commissioner Third District — William
Host (rep.), 56; Cliristian Lewis (ind.),
Sti.
Commissioner Fouitli District — L. 0.
Beck (rep.), 94: J. G. Fodues (ind.),
11.3.
Commissioner Fiftli District — A. E.
Kilen (rep.), 124: .f. J. Tagley (ind.),
8.5.
The election of 1881 almost went bv
^Mr. Kni.s.s was elected.
^'Resigned November 1. ISSl. L. W. Seely
was appointed January -f, 1SS2. to complete the
term.
^Was chairman from 1S81 to 1S85. inclusive.
default and was the quietest one ever held
in the c-ounty. There'were only two in-
dependent candidates against the nomi-
nees of the republican convention^ and
only 489 votes were cast. Although state
officers were voted for, in only one pre-
cinct (Ewington) was there a vote cast
for the democratic nominee for governor.
The vote follows :
Governor— L. F. Hubbard (rep.), 467;
P. W. Johnson (dem.), 7.
Judge District Court-" — JI. J. Sever-
ance (rep.), 477.
Auditor — William A'. King (rep.), 482.
Treasurer — John Paulson (rep.), 483.
Slieriff — Charles Malchow (rep.), 478.
Register of Deed.s — A. C. Serum (rep.),
303;. Samuel LaRire (ind.), 120.
Superintendent of Schools — T. J. Knox
(rep.), 470.
Surveyor — James E. Palmer (rep.),
447.
Commissioner First District — Martin
Logue (rep.), 53; H. W. Chandler (ind.),
43.
For the first time in history Jackson
county gave a democratic nominee for con-
gress a majority in 1882. There was no
opposition to the republican county ticket.
Six hundred fifty votes were cast, as fol-
lows :
Congressman — J. B. Wakefield (rep.),
238; J. A. Latimer (dem.), 392; Felix
A. liorcr (pro.), 19.
Senator— R. M. Ward (rep.), 308; J.
B. Dukes (ind.),. 340.="
Representative — James E. Child (rep.),
638.
Clerk of Court — George R. Moore
(rep.), 394; E. J. Orr (ind.), 249.
-''Judges were elected for six year terms, hut
the legislature of 1885 created a new district —
the 13th — composed of the counties of N'obles,
Rock, Pipestone. Murray. Cottonwood and Jack-
son. In March. 1885. Goyernor Hubbard ap-
pointed .\. D. Perkins judge of the new dis-
trict, and Judge Severance served only until
that date.
-'Mr. Ward was elected.
198
HISTdRV III' .lACKSdX { nlNI ■^•
County Attorney— L. \V. Sooly (rep.),
fi32.
Judge of Probate — Simon Olson (lop.),
G41.
Coroner— E. P. Gould (rep.), GoO.
Court Commissioner — C. L. Campbell
(rep.), 634.
Commissioner Second District — A. C.
Whitman^" (rep.), 103.
Commissioner Third District — Ciiris-
liaii Lewis (rep.), 109.
="ReslKned October. 1S85. nnd loft the county.
J. W. Cowlnjr was then appointed and served
as chairman durlnB 1S86 under the appointment.
i
CHAPTER XV.
POLITICALf— 1883-1910.
ANOTHER abortive attempt was
made to organize the democratic
party of .Jackson county in 1883.
A call for a mass convention was issued
liy a few of tlie party leaders on October
11/ and tlie convention was held in Jack-
son Tuesday evening, October 23. D. M.
LeVore was chairman of the meeting and
F. Jj. Driggs was secretary. A county
committee was named, but no candidates
were placed in nomination.
The election of 1S83 was quite hotly
contested for the few ofEices for which
there were independent candidates. A
pretty four cornered tight for the office
of sheriff developed among independent
candidates. The republican convention
had deadlocked over. the nomination and
had adjourned without selecting a nomi-
nee for that important office. Seven hun-
dred forty-four votes were cast. Under the
new plan of holding elections only on
even-numbered years, the officials elected
in 1883 served three years. The vote :
Governor— L. F. Hubbard (rep.), 560;
'"The democrats of Jackson county are here-
by called and requested to meet in mass con-
vention at Owens' hall in Jackson, Minnesota,
on Saturday, October 20, 1SS3, at one o'clock
p. m., for the purpose of organizing for the
coming campaign. Let every democrat who has
the love of hir- country at heart rally and lend
his voice to strengthen and upbuild his party
in Jackson county. (Signed) F. L. Driggs, D.
M. DeVore, R. K. Craigue, M. Miller, G. A.
Albertus."
Adolph Bierman (dem.), 173; Charles E.
Holt (pro.), 11.
Auditor— William V. King (rep.), 713.
Treasurer — John Paulson (rep.), 727.
Sheriff— Charles Malchow (ind.), 332;
C. A. Wood (ind.), 174; H. W. Peck
(ind.), 141; P. E. Bailey (ind.), 78.
Register of Deeds — A. C. Serum (rep.),
731.
Superintendent of Schools — T. J. Knox
(rep.), 706.
Surveyor — James E. Palmer (rep.),
709.
Court Commissioner — M. A. Strong
(rep.), 724.
Commissioner Fourtli District — Jul G.
Fodnes (rep.), 106; John P. Brakke
(ind.), 56; Charles Winzer (ind.), 25.
Commissioner Fifth District — A. E.
Ivilen- (rep.), 148.
James G. Blaine carried Jackson coun-
ty over Grover Cleveland for president by
a large majority in 1884. There were 859
votes east, and with one exception, the re-
publican ticket was elected. The vote as
officially canvassed:
President — James G. Blaine (rep.),
652; Grover Cleveland (dem.), 146; Ben-
jamin F. Butler (a-m.), 43; John P. St.
John (pro.), 18.
^Resigned September 20, 1886, and H.
Sether appointed in his place September 23.
C.
199
•200
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Congressman — 1. li. Wakelield (rep.),
est; .J. J. Thornloii (.loin.). l.")8; Wil-
liam Copp (pro.), li.
h'l-presontative — -Me.xander Fiddcs
(rop.), liOO; Eric Olson (ind.), 1-J7.
County Attorney— E. D. Briggs (rep.),
■.i2-i; D. M. DeVore (ind.), 514.
Judge of Probate— Simon Olson (rop.),
800.
Coroner- E. P. Gould (rep.), 848.
Commissioner First District — C. ^I.
Tlardy' (rep.), I'O.
For llie lirst time in the political hi;^-
tory of the county, in 1886 the democrats
had reached a point where they believed
they had sufficient strength to warrant
entering the field of county politics and
put up a ticket. Accordingly a conven-
tion was convened at Lakefield October 3
and organized. Then it was found that
there were many present who did not care
to participate in a democratic convention,
labeled as such, but who were opposed to
the republican organization and would
take ]iart in the deliljcrations of the con-
vention if another name were given. So
the following resolution was adopted :
Tliat. inasmuch as there are many imle-
pendent voters present and many persons not
identilied with the democratic i.arty. but who
are united with us in our opposition to rings
and ring ruh>. now be it resolved tliat \ve do
not, as a democratic convention, nominate
anvone for (ounty olTicc. but that we invite
all" independent voters and all such as arc in
sympathy with the common people and against
rings and bossism. to join with us in nominat-
ing a proper ticket, laying aside all political
partisanship.
After the passage of this re.-ohitiou tlie
democratic convention adjourned and im-
mediately reconvened as the "peoples"
convention. A full county ticket was
placed in nomination, a pcrnutnent or-
ganization nuidc, and a determined can-
vass made. The election was hotly con-
tested and exciting. All the nominees of
the new party polled fair votes and three
'Re.slgTied and John Baldwin appolntiil March
4. 1S86, to complete the term.
of them were elected. By far the largest
vote ever polled was cast, l,3:iG being the
liighesl fur any one olTice. 'i'he stoiy in
figures :
Governor — .\. li. iktiill (rep.). '.Mii ;
A. A. Ames (dem.). :J.V.' : J. E. Ciiild
(pro.), 3G.
Judge District Couil— A. D. I'crkins*
(all parties), elected.
Congressman — .John Lind (rep.),
I.iiii.'): A. H. Bullis (dem.), 2.57; George
.i. iJay (pro.), 1.
Senator — Frank A. Day (rep.), 01)3;
W. 11. Giliiert (dem.), G:?!.
IJeiircsentative — Erick Sevatson (rep.),
I.IISS: Elder Berry (dem.), 22G.
Auditor- William V. King (rep.), 908;
J. A. Spafford (peo.), -110.
Treasurer — John JV.ulson"' (rep.). !U.';
John Frederickson (peo.), 413.
Sheriff— C. A. Wood (rep.), T!).-); Ole
.Anderson (peo.), ."jSO.
Register of Deeds — .\. C. Sennn (rep.).
S,S0: L. B. I^ernd (poo.). 44G.
J\idgc of Probate — Simon Olson (rep.),
-ll."); llcnry Kniidson (pi'ii.). y.Vi : II. S.
Kailey (ind.), 3G2.
County Attorney — T. J. Knox (np.),
S.53; D. M. DeVore (peo.), 4iio.
Surveyor — L. L. PaliiuT (rep.), elect-
ed ; John G. Miller (peo.)
Coroner — E. 1'. Gould" (rep.), elected.
Clerk of Court — \. II. Strong (re]).).
';G!t: John P. Brakke (peo.), .').')1.
Court Commissioner — S. C. K'ca (rep.
and peo.), elected; 1?. D. Ijjirned (ind.)
.Superintendent of Schools — E. F. Lam-
mers (rep.), .^IS; Flora J. Frost (peo.),
i:!3: W. B. Sketch (ind.). 194; Joseph
J. Jones (inil.1. 1i;3: J. W. Dnnn (ind.).
I.VI.
'Kc^ignert February. 1S91. and ]'. K. Tlrown
appointed liy fJovernor Merrlam to llnish the
term.
"Reslitneii in November. ISSS.
"Remnveil from the i-ounty .ind \V. i '. I'eil-
mann appointed January li. 1.>>S7. The latter
also removed from the rounty. and on Mnrcn
21. 1S8S. W. AV. Heffellinger received the ap-
pointment.
Commissioner First
Baldwin (peo.), elected.
Commissioner Second District — J. W.
Cowing" (rep.), elected.
Commissioner Third District — William
]?ost (rep.), elected; A. D. Palmer (peo.)
Commissioner Fourth District — J. J.
Johnson (rep.) ; Jolin Powlitschek** (peo.),
elected.
Commissioner Fifth District — H. C.
Sether (rep.), elected; Gustav Meilicke
(i^eo.)
Fifteen hundred seventy-eight votes
were cast in Jackson county for president
in 1888. For national, state and district
officers the democrats made the best show-
ing in the county's hi.<tory up to that time,
(i rover Cleveland receiving 475 votes for
president. The republicans, democrats
and prohibitionists each had tickets in the
field of local politics, the prohibitionists
having for the first time met in conven-
tion at Lakefield September 2. The re-
publicans were generally successful, al-
though a few met defeat. The vote:
President — Benjamin Harrison (rep.),
1,017; Grover Cleveland (dem.), 475;
Clinton B. Fi.-k (pro.), 8G.
Governor — William E. Merriam (rep.),
032; Eugene M. Wilson (dem.), 519;
Hugh Harrison (pro.), 120.
Congressman — John Lind (rep.),
1,025; Morton S. Wilkinson (dem.), 4G4;
D. W. Edwards (pro.), 88.
Representative — Erick Sevatson (rep.),
1,029; C. W. Hall (dem.), 330; Babcock
(pro.), 95.
Auditor— William V. King (rep.), 924;
J. A. SpafEord (dem.-pro.), 652.
Treasurer — Christian Lewis (rep.),
805; H. H. Berge (ind.), G55; Anders
Roe (pro.), 100; H.J. Hoovcl (dem.), 5.
Register of Deeds— S. 0. Hagen (rep.).
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY,
District — John
201
(180; John Baldwin (dem.), 701; E. J.
Orr (pro.), 113.
County Attorney— T. J. Knox (rep.),
848: W. A. Funk (ind.), 717.
Sheriff— C. A. Wood (rep.), 1,078; M.
:\liller (dem.), 487.
Judge of Probate— Henry Knudson
(rep.), -848; A. D. Palmer (dem.-pro.),
3()0; Simon Olson (ind.), 358.
Superintendent of Schools — L. F. Lam-
mers (rep.), 88G : Flora J. Frost (dem.),
804.
Coroner— W. W. Heffelfmger" (I'ep.),
883; W. C. Portmann (dem.), 603 ; Nath-
aniel Frost (pro.), 80.
Surveyor— L. L. Palmer (rep.), 1,431;
J. 0. Miller (pro.).' 94; G. A. Albertus
(dem.), 24.
Commissioner First District — Oriin
Jones'" (rep.), 159: Robert Gruhlke
(dem.), 126.
Commissioner Third District— William
Post (ind.), 47; Matt Tollefson (pro.),
6: Richard Suker (dem.), 49; H. K.
Rue (ind.), 114; Olson, 30; Lufron
(in<l.), 73.
Commissioner Fourth District — J. E.
Jones (dem.-rep.), 137; Frank Wazlahow-
sky (ind.), 84; Henry Hohenstein (ind.),
71.
Commissioner Filth District— Hans
Sether (rep.), 278; B. A. Brown (pro.), 6.
There was a political revolution in
1890, caused by the entrance into politics
of the farmers' alliance. The result was
the almost complete overthrow of the re-
publican party, which had been in control
since the organization of the county. The
alliance candidate for governor carried
the county; the alliance candidates for
state senator and representative carried
the county and were elected ; the alliance
candidate for congress lost the county by
'Served as chairman from 1S86 to
elusive.
1894, in-
•Died February 23. 1887. J. E. Jones appoint-
ed to the vacancy April 6, 1887.
'Resigned and W.
coroner April 30, 1SS9,
'"Resigned and Walter
July, 1891.
C. Portmann appointed
Withers appointed
202
IIISIOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
only a small plmalit}. Of tlie county of-
ficers only two or three were elected who
liad not been nominated or endorsed by
the alliance party. The legislative situa-
tion was complicated by a bad split in the
republican convention. The delegates from
Cottonwood county, which was then for
tlie first time districted with Jackson
county. r<'fustHl to participate in tlic con-
vention. Tlie Jackson county delegates
proceeded to place in nomination T. J.
Kno.x for senator and 8ilas Blackman for
representative. 'I'he Cottonwood county
delegates met and nominated i-hick Sevat-
son for senator and 11. F. Tucker for rep-
resentative,, and tliese were later endorsed
by the alliance party. Fifteen liundred
si.xty-eight votes were polled. Tlie result :
Governor — William 11. Jlerriam (rep.),
434; Thomas J. Wiison (dem.), 504; Sid-
ney M. Owen (all.), 595; J. P. Pinkham
(pro.), 35.
Congressman — Joliii Lind (rep.), 781;
James 11. Baker (all.), 754: Tra Reynolds
(pro.), 20.
Senator — T. J. Kno\ (,itli.), 594;
i:iick Sevati^on (all.), 737; W. C. Port-
niium (dcm.), •.'19;J. 1. Wallace (pro.), 7.
L'eprcsentative — Sihis Blackman (rep.),
503; Edward Savage (dem.), 314; H. F.
Tucker (all.), 680.
Auditor — .\. C. Scrum (rep.), 591;
William V. King (all.), 937.
Treasurer — Christian Lewis (rep.-den).-
all.), 1,507.
Sheriff— C. A. Wood (rep.). 099; S. J.
Moe (all.), 843; L. O. Bock (pro.). 22.
Register of Deeds — John Baldwin
(dem.-rop.-all.), 1,505.
Judge of Probate— C. IT. Sandon
(rep.), 739; J. G. Miller (dem.). 189;
Ole 0. Engen (all.). 007.
County Attorney — W. A. Funk (re]i.-
all.). 1,207.
Surveyor — L. L. Palimv ( np.-ilrm.-
all.), 1.531.
Coroner— C. 11. J. K.41am. (190: W. C.
Portmann, 820.
Clerk of Court— A. H. Strong (rep.),
803: II. J. Hollister (dem.-all.). 757.
Court Comniissioner — J. .\. (iooilridi
(all.-dem.), 1.333: T. A. Alexander
(rep.), 220.
Superintendent of School* — Eugene
IJuckor (re]).). 'III. : l-"loia .1. Frost
(dem.), 1.180.
Commissioner Second District — '. W.
Cowing (rep.). 127: .'. \\ . lliintcr
(ind.), 97.
An outgrowth of tlie alliance party was
the peoples party, otherwise known as the
populist party, which made its first ap-
pearance in Jackson county p(ditics in
3 892. Now only a memory, the peoples
party was an importiint factor in the poli-
tics of the county iluring the nineties. Its
strength was such that during several
cam[)aigns, by forming alliance with, and
cn<lorsing nominees of, the democratic
party, it was able to dominate county poli-
tics.
The county was carried by the ri'pub-
licans in 1892 for jiresident by the snuill-
est ]ilurality the nominee of tiiat ]iarty
ever reci'ived, before or since. The nomi-
nees of that party for governor and con-
gressman also carried the county by small
pluralities. Fusion Itetween the demo^
crats and peoples party was alTected for
re]tresentative. and the nominee of those
jiarties carried the county ami was elected.
In county politics the democrats and
peoples party also combined, their con-
ventions being liehl on the same day. By
mutual understanding the democrats
named the nominees for register of deeds,
superintendent of schools, judge of pro-
bate, coroner and county commi.<sioners
from the first and fourth districts, while
the peoples party selected the nominees
for auditor, treasurer, county attorney,
sheriff, survevor and commi.ssioners from
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
203
the third and fifth districts. At the elec-
tion the fusion forces elected auditor, sher-
iff, register of deeds, .surveyor, coroner and
commissioners from the first, third and
fifth districts. The republicans elected
treasurer, judge of probate, count)' attor-
ney and commissioner from the fourth
district. The nominee for superintendent
of schools wa.s endorsed by all parties.
The vote had now increased to ■,',(i'.iCi,
a far greater number 1han had ever bef(n'e
been cast. The Australian ballot system
was employed for the first time in this
election. The vote in detail :
President — Benjamin Harrison (rep.),
900; Grover Cleveland (dem.), 852;
James B. Weaver (pp.), 370; Silas Bid-
well (pro.), Hi.
Governor — Knute Nelson (rep.), 839;
Daniel W. Lawler (dem.), 680; Ignatius
Donnelly (pp.), 313; Dean (pro.), 54.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.), 883; W. S. Hannnond (dem.),
G90; L. C. Long (pp.), 344.
Judge District Court— P. E. Brown"
(non-partisan), 1,339.
Kepresentative — John Paulson (rep.),
933; E. J. Meilicke (dem.-pp.), 1,017.
Auditor— J. D. Wilson (rep.), 814;
William V. King (dem.-pp.), 1,156.
Treasurer — Christian Lewis (rep-).
1,116; Charles Malchow (dem.-pp.), 835.
Sheriff— D. S. Stoddard (rep.), 653;
Die Anderson (dem.-iip.), 856; S. J. Moe
(ind.), 431.
Register of Deeds — Jarcb Palmer
(rep.), (M4 ; Jolin Baldwin (dem. -pp.),
1,301.
Judge of Probate — C. H. Sandon
(rep.), 1,143; E. Babcock (dem.-pp.),
785.
County Attorney — W. A. Funk (rep.),
9S3: W. B. Sketch (dem.-pp.), 975.
"In 1897 the legislature changed the boundar-
ies of the Judicial districts, and Jackson coun-
ty became a part of the 17th. James H. Quinn
became judge of the 17th and presided over his
first Jackson county court in April, 1S97.
Surveyor — A. C. Serum (rep.), 749;
C. W. Gove (dem.-pp.), 810; L. L. Pal-
mer (ind.), 377.
Coroner — Scott Searles (rep.), 779;
W. C. Portmann (dem.-pp.) 1,143.
Superintendent of Schools — Flora J.
Frost (rcp.-dem.), 1,797.
Commissioner First District — W. H.
.\uslin (rep.), 134: Henry Thielvoldt
(drill. -pp.), 334.
Commissioner Thud District — W. C.
Hauer (rep.), 139; H. K. Eue (dem.-pp.),
316.
Commissioner Fourth District — George
Erbes (rep.), 181; J. E. Jones (dem.-
pp.), 141; G. T. Juvland (ind.), 58.
Commissioner Fifth District — Thomas
Chesterson (pp.), 383.
The election of 1894 was one of great
excitement in local circles, and the cam-
paign was one of tlie most bitter ever
waged in the county. All three parties
were in the field with tickets, the demo-
crats and peoples party combining on only
a few officers. In addition to the regular
party iiominees tliere were a number of
independent candidates, who added their
sliare to the liitterness of the strife. The
republican county ticket was generally
successful, although a few offices went to
the other parties. The peoples party
nominees for senator and representative
carried the county and were elected.
Twenty-four hundred nineteen was the
higliest number of vote.s cast for the nomi-
nees of one office. Tlie result:
Governor — Knute Nelson (rep.), 1,243;
George L. Becker (dem.), 438; Sidney M.
Owen (pp.), 701; Hans S. Hilleboe
(pro.), 43.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.), 1,195; James T. Baker (dem.),
416 ;L. C. Long (pp.), 685; H. S. Kel-
1am (pro.), 53.
Senator— H. F. Tucker (rep.), 1,086;
Erick Sevaston (])p.), 1,326.
204
HISTOUV ol' .lACKSON col NIV
Representative— C. K. J. Kellnm (rep.),
997; E. J. Meilickc (pp.), 1/2S1.
Auditor— V. E. Butler (rep.), «37;
Joseph J. Jones (deni.), 403 ; J. A. Spaf-
fonl (pp.). 538; William Y. King (ind.),
707.
Treasurer- John Paulson (rep.), 580;
G. A. Albertu.? (dcm.), 559; Malt Tollef-
son (pp.), ;558; Christian Ia-wIs (ind.).
560; Charles Malchow (ind.), 'M\-l.
Register of Deeds— John P. Biakke
(rep.), 555; John Baldwin (doiu.), 1,103;
C. W. Gove (pp.), 729.
Sheriil— Clark A. Wood (rep.), 999;
M. Miller (dem.), 489; Ole Anderson
(pp.), 930.
Clerk of Court— Eugene Rucker (rep.),
1,081 ; John M. Voda (pp.-dom.). 712 ; A.
H. Strong (ind.), 494.
Judge of Probate— C. H. Sandon
(rep.), 1,521; Marvin Ilollister (dcm.),
535; Isaac Durham (pp.). 300.
Surveyor— J. L. Hoist (rep.), 1,018:
John G. Miller (dem.), 587; James Pal-
mer (ind.), 748.
Coroner — W. ('• P'>ilin;inn (dcm.).
1,G93. I I
Count.v Attorney— W. .\. Funk'- (rep.),
1,049; T. A. Alexander (dem.), 380; W .
B. Sketch (pp.), 975.
Superintendent of Schools— Lizzie A.
Price (rep.), 1,350; Flora J. Frost (dera.-
pp.), 1,543.
Court Commissioner — I. .\. Goodncli
(rep.), 1,345; S. D. Sumner (dem.), 82G.
Commissioner Second District— Alex-
ander Fiddes" (rep.), 426.
In 1896 tlie free silver issue gained
many adherents in Jackson county, and
Willian\ Jennings Bryan, the democratic
standard hearer, received a large vote,
although William McKinley had a ma-
jority. The democratic and peoples party
"Left the countv In November. 1895. and L.
F. Lammers was appointed to the vacancy in
January. 1896.
"Wa.i chairman from 1S95 lo 1898. Inclusive.
nominee for governor came witiiiii two
votes of carrying the county; the congres-
sional and legislative offices were also
carried hy the republicans. Twenty-eight
hundred fitty-eight votes were cat^t.
As in 1892, the democratic and peoples
parly combined on their county ticket.
The nominees for representative and
sheriff were named in joint convention ;
the other nominees were selected by sep-
arate conventions, the democrats naming
candidates for register of deeds, judge of
probate, county attorney, coroner and com-
missioners from the first and fourth dis-
tricts, and the peoples party candidates
for auditor, treasurer, superintendent of
schools, surveyor, court commissioner and
commissioners from the third and fifth
districts. The fusion forces elected reg-
ister of deeds, coroner, superintendent of
schools and two of the four commission-
ers ; the other offices were captured by the
republicans. The vote as canvassed :
President— William McKinley (rep.),
l..").".S; William J. Bryan (dem.), 1.1.50;
Levering (pro.), 29; Palmer (nal. dem.),
21: Matchett (soc.-dem.), 0.
Governor — David M. Clough (rep.),
I.:i28: J„hn Lind (dem.-pp.), 1.326; Wil-
liam J. Dean (pro.), 26; A. A. .\mee,
(ind.), 5; William B. Haiinnnnd (foc.
lab.), 4.
Congressman — .lames T. MiCleary
(rc|i.). 1,555; Frank A. Day (dem.-]>p.),
1.21i;: Richard Price (pro.). 38.
Representative — George M. Laing
(rep.), 1,438; E. J. Meilicke (dem.-pp.),
1 ,368.
Auditor— Y. E. Butler (rep.), 1,4.30;
William V. King (dem.-pp.), 1,428.
Treasurer — John Paulson (rep.). L477;
11. K. Rue (dem.-pp.), 1,377.
Register of Deeds— G. T. .hi viand
(rep.), 1,344; John Baldwin (dem. -pp.),
1.512.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
205
Sheriff— C. A. Wood (rep.), 1,615 ;01e
Anderson (dem.-pp.), 1,230.
Judge of Probate — C. H. Sandon(rep.),
1,843; George C. Cooley (dem.-pp.), 970.
Surveyor— J. L. HoM (rep.), 1,514; F.
E. Stanley (dem.-pp.). 1,299.
Coroner — C. E. J. Kellam (rep.),
1,328; W. C. Portmann (dem.-pp.), 1,524.
County Attorney — E. T. Smith (rep.),
1,623; F. B. Faber (dem.-pp.), 1,205.
Superintendent of Schools — Lizzie A.
Price (rep.), 1,663; Flora J. Frost (dem.-
pp.), 1,664."
Commissioner First District — T. J.
Russell (rep.), 250; Henry Thievoldt
(dem.), 256.
Commissioner Third District — D. Craw-
ford (rep.), 438; Alex Brown (pp.), 272.
Commissioner Fourth District — George
p]rbes (rep.), 455.
Commissioner Fifth District — Thomas
Clipperton (rep.), 214; Thomas Chester-
son." (pp.), 268.
The off-year 1898 showed a falling off
in the total vote, the number being 2,145.
The two free silver parties again combined
their forces against the republican ticket,
but they were not very succassful at the
polls. The fusionists carried the county
for representative and elected the register
of deeds ; otherwise the republicans were
successful. Following was the vote:
Governor — William H. Eustis (rep.).
1,502 ; John Lind (dem.-pp.), 964; George
W. Higgins, (pro.), 35 ; William B. Ham-
"Miss Price served notice of a contest for
the office of superintendent of schools on No-
vember 23. 1S96. The case came to trial before
Judge P. E. Brown of the district court on
Monday. December 27. Attorney \V. A. Funk
appearing for the contestant and Attorney T. J.
Knox for the contestee. Over thirty witnesses
were examined and many votes were thrown
out as illegal. Twenty ballots that had been
cast for Miss Price were thrown out and five
or six that had been cast for Miss Frost met
the same fate. After the case had reached
this stage Miss Price aslted that the contest
be dismissed, which was done.
"In February. 189S. Charles Tichacek was
chosen commissioner from the fifth district to
succeed Mr. Chesterson.
mond (soc.-lab.), 11; L. C. Long (middle
of the road populist), 8.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.), 1,188; D. H. Evans (dem.-pp.),
803; T. P. Grout (pro.), 61.
Judge District Court — James H. Quinn
(rep.-ind.), 1,270; Andrew C. Dunn (ind.
and non-partisan), 789.
Senator — Alexander Fiddes (rep.), 970;
E. J. Meilicke (dem.-pp.), 1,142.
Representative — D. L. Riley (rep.),
1,330; James Manning (dem.-pp.), 740.
Auditor— V. E. Butler (rep.), 1,340;
William V. King (dem.-pp.), 805.
Treasurer — .John Paulson (rep.), 1,099;
H. K. Rue (dem.-pp.), 1,041.
Sheriff— M. B. Dunn (rep.), 1.422;
John W. Muir (dem.-pp.), 703.
Register of Deeds — S. N. Olson (rep.),
1,017; John Baldwin (dem.-pp.), 1,115.
Judge of Probate — C. H. Sandon
(rep.), 1.360; Y. B. Crane (dem.-pp.),760.
County .Attorney — E. T. Smith (rep.),
1.163; W. B. Sketch (ind.), 921.
Coroner — F. J. Ledbrook (rep.), 1,045;
W. C. Portmann (dem.-pp.), 1,018.
Clerk of Court — Eugene Rucker^®
(rep.), 1,360; J. F. Laumann (dem.-pp.),
1,018.
Superintendent of Schools — David
Brown (rep.), 1,303; Flora J. Frost,
(dem.-pp.), 1,181..
Court Commissioner — J. A. Goodricli,
(rep.-dem.-pp.). 1,733.
Surveyor— J. L. Hoist (rep.), 1,723.
Commissioner Second District — P. H.
Berge^' (rep.), 255; J. I. Wallace (dem.-
pp.), 223.
Commissioner Fifth District — J. ^I. Ol-
son (rep.), 206; Charles Tichacek (dem.-
pp.), 161.
The higli mark in total vote cast, in the
entire history of the county, was reached
"■•Resigned and William D. Hunter appointed
by Judge Quinn in June, 1902.
''Was chairman from January, 1809, to July,
1904.
206
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
in 1900, when 2,988 ballots were cast for
the candidates for one office. The repub-
licans carried tlie county afjainst the fus-
ionists for all state and district ofTicers
and elected the county ticket with the ex-
ception of treasurer, register of deeds and
one commissioner. The vote:
President— William ^McKiiilev (rep.),
1,757; William J. Bryan (dem.-pp.), 9!)3 ;
John G. Wolley (pro.), S3: Eugene V.
Debs (soc. deni.), '24: :\ralloney (soc.
lab.), 7.
Governor — S. E. VanSant (rep.),
1,433; John Lind (dem.-pp.), 1,303;
Bernt B. Haugen (pro.), 45; S. M. Fair-
child (middle of the road), 6 ; Thomas H.
Lucas (soc.-dem.), 39; Edward Kriz (soc.
lab.), 4.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.), 1.799: 'SL E. Matthews (dem.-
pp.), 1,059: S. D. Works (pro.), 72.
Representative— D. L. Riley (rep.),
1,609: William V. King (dem.-pp.).
1,241.
Auditor— P. D. McKellar (rep.) , 1,52G ;
Jo.seph J. Jones (dem.-pp.), 1,421.
Trea.surer — John Paulson (rep.). 1,475;
H. K. Rue (dem.-pp.), 1,513.
Sheriff— M. B. Dunn (rep.), 1,911: S.
J. Moe (dem.-pp.), 1,070.
Register of Deeds— T. A. Dieson (rep.),
1.35S: John Baldwin (dcni.-pp.). 1,008.
Judge of Probate- C. TT. Sandon (rop.),
2,444.
County Attorney— E. T. Smith (rep.).
1.803; W. B. Sketch (ind.), 1,042.
Surveyor— J. L. TTolst (rep.). l.r..">9;
J. J. Babcock (dem.-pp.). 1.209.
Coroner- F. J. Tx'dbniok"" (rep.).
2,243.
Superintendent of Schools — Laura T.
Olson (rep.), 1,404; Flora J. Frost
(dem.-pp.), 1,38G; David Brown (ind.),
901.
"Rfmovfcl from county and ofTlcf- flpcl.ircd
vacant July 10. 1901. W. C. Portmapn appoint-
ed to complete the term.
Commissioner First District — ^Dennis
Stoddard (rep.), 240; Henry Thielvoldt
(dem.-pp.), 289.
Commissioner Third District— David
Crawford (rep.), 445; Herman Tank
(dem.-pp.), 291.
Commissioner Fourth District— George
Erbes'" (rep.), 309; Jerry Sullivan (dem.-
pp.), 185.
The primary election law went into ef-
fect in 1902, and since that time party
nominations have been made by direct
vote of the people instead of the old style
comity conventions. This has resulted in
revolutionizing county politics. Jackson
county being normally strongly republi-
can, the principal campaign is now nuide
for the republican nomination. Fnder
the law anyone can become a candidate
liy jiaying a small fee and filing his name,
and there are often several candidates for
one office. Generally there are only a
few contests for county office at the gen-
eral election.
At tlie first primary election, held Sep-
tember 16, 1902, the following were named
on the republican ticket without opposi-
tion : Congressman. James T. McCleary ;
representative, L. F. Lammers; register of
deeds, Ole E. Olson : judge of probate. C.
n. Sandon: commissioner second dis-
trict. P. H. Berge: eommissioner fifth dis-
trict, J. i[. Olson. The result where
tlicrc was more tluin one candidate wtis as
follows:
Senator— D. L. Riley. V.'?: W. .\.
Smith, 621.="
Auditor— P. D. :^rcKcllnr. S79: E. O.
Hanson, 459.
Shoriff— M. B. Dunn, 711; C. M.
Tradcwell, 647: R. H. Austin, 38.
Clerk of Court— William Crawford,
722 : R. H. Lueneburg, 519.
"Rc^ienrd .\prll IS. 190J. T. J. Egge named
to complete the term.
=«Mr. Smith carried the district.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
207
Superintendent of Schools — Laura T.
Olson, 1,111; W. E. Bertels, 298.
All tlic democratic nominees were chosen
without opposition, as follows : Congress-
man, Charles N. Andrews; representative,
A. M. Sehroeder; treasurer, H. K. Eue;
register of deeds, John Baldwin ; clerk
of court, John M. Voda.
At the general election 3,350 votes
were polled. The republicans elected their
ticket with the exception of representa-
tive, treasurer and register of deeds, and
carried the county for state and congres-
sional candidates by big majorities. The
peoples party went out of existence, so far
as county politics was concerned, with the
election of 1900. The vote of the 1903,
general election in detail :
Governor — Samuel E. VanSant (rep.),
1,493; Leonard A. Eosing (dem.), 690;
Thomas J. Meighen (pp.), 26; Charles
Scanlon (pro.), 70; Jay E. Nash, 4;
Thomas Van Lear (soc. lab.). 9.
Congressman — James T. McClearv
(rep.). 1,.536; Charles N. Andrews,
(dem.), 737.
Senator— W. A. Smith (rep.), 1,713.
Eepresentative — L. P. Lammers (rep.),
899: A. M. Sehroeder (dem.), 1,433.
Auditor— P. D. McKellar (rep.) , 1963.
Treasurer— H. K. Eue (dem.), 1,8.59.
Eegister of Deeds- Ole E. Olson (rep.),
797; John Baldwin (dem.), 1,134; J. E.
Foss (ind.), 3S3.
Clerk of Court— William Crawford
(rep.), 1,191; John M. Yoda (dem.),
1,1.59.
Judge of Probate— Charles H. Sandon
(rep.), 1,834.
County Attorney— E. T. Smith (rep.),
1,864.
Sheriff— M. B. Dunn (rep.), 1,839.
Superintendent of Sehools^ — Laura T.
Olson (rep.), 1,793.
Surveyor— J. J. Babcock (ind.), 1,631.
Court Commissioner — .J. A. Goodrich
(ind.), 1,.578.
Coroner— D. P. Maitland (ind.), 1,623.
Commisioner Second District — P. H.
Berge-^ (rep.), 446.
Commissioner Fifth DL'^trict — J. M.
Olson (rep.), 323.
At the 1904 republican primary elec-
tion the following were chosen without
o]iposition: Judge district court, James
H. Quinn; auditor, P. D. McKellar;
county attorney, E. T. Smith; commis-
sioner second district, Henry G. Ander-
son; commissioner third district, Dacid
Crawford. The result for those offices
where there were more than one candi-
date :
Congressman — James T. McCleary,
1,13.5; H.J. Miller, 747.
Eepresentative — L. F. Lammers, 432;
B. P. St. John, 629 ; L. 0. Teigen, 788.
Eegister of Deeds— Ole E. Olson, 738;
0. J. Wagnild, 897.
Judge of Probate— B. P. Elverum, 739 ;
C. H. Sandon, 1,08.5.
Superintendent of Schools — E. B. Mc-
Colm, 508; Laura T. Olson, 1,080 ; Eliza-
beth Eouse. 879.
Sheriff— M. B. Dunn. 1,050; Dan Mc-
Namara, 318; C. M. Tradewell, 659.
Coroner— H. L. Arzt, 738 ; D. P. Mait-
land, 1,005.
As in 1903, there was no opposition to
those who filed for the democratic nomi-
nation.?, and the following were chosen:
Judge district court, Frederick A. Math-
wig ; congressman, George P. Jones ; audi-
tor, Joseph J. Jones; register of deeds,
John Baldwin ; treasurer, H. K. Eue ; sur-
veyor, J. J. Babcock ; commissioner first
district, Henrv Tbielvoldt.^^
^'Resigned July, 1904, and Henry G. Anderson
wa.': appointed to serve until January 1, 1905.
He was cliosen chairman July 11. 1904.
-The highest number cast for any one office
on the democratic ticket was 7.3. The small-
npss of tliis vote is easily accounted for. Ttiere
being no contests in their own party, the dCTno-
crats assisted the republicans In the selection
208
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
'I'wn tliou.Siind nine Inindn'rl t'i>rty-si.\
votes were cast at the general election of
1904. Tiieodore Roosevelt received a rec-
ord-breaking majority for president, and
the republicans carried the county for all
state and di.strict officers. Of tlie county
offices only treasurer and one commis-
sioner went to the democrats. Tiie vote :
President — Theodore Ro(wevelt (rep).
•2M2: All. Ill n. Tarkcr (.Iciii.). .").')4.-- '
Governor — Kohcrt ('. I'linii (rf|i. ).
1,505; .Inlin A. Johnson ((Iciii.), l,l!Mi;
Charles Dorsett (pro.). 4;{: J. E. Nash
(pub. own.), 13; A. W . M. .\iuIerson (soc.
bib.), 13.
Congressman — James T. Met "U>ary
(rep.), 1,S"1; George V. Jones (dem.),
1,001.
Judge District Court — James If.
(Juinn (rep.), 1,817; Frederick A. Matli-
wig, (dem.). 1,000.
Rci)resciitative — L. 0. Teigen (rep.),
1,460; A. M. Scliroeder (dem.), 1,413.
Auditor — P. T). ^fcKcllar (rc]!.").
l.(!3S; Jo.scpb J. Jones (deui.). 1,308.
Treasurer— n. K. Rue (dem.), 2,330.
Register of Deeds — 0. J. Wagnild
(rep.). 1,738; .Tnlni Baldwin (dem.).
1.178.
Sheriff— :\I. I'.. Duiin (rep.). 2.408.
Judge of Proliate — ('. 11. Sandoii
(rep.), 2,3fi5.
County Attorney— E. T. Smith (rep.),
2.270.
Surveyor— J. J. Bnbcock (dem.). 2.007.
Coroner- 1». 1'. Maiilninl (ivp.). 2.1S1.
Supcrinfendent of Scliools — Laura '1".
Olson (rep.), 2,257.
Commissioner First llistrict-* — Henry
Thielvoldt (dem.), 323; Charles Fried
(ind.), 125.
Commissioner Second District — llcury
(!. .\nder.~on-'' (rep.), 485.
Commissioner Third District — David
Crawford (rep.). 555.
Coiiiiiiissioner Fiiiirlb District — Duii-
iMli MrXab ( rr]i.). l.so.
The IJMKi republican ])riniary resulte<l
in selecting the folh.wing without oppo-
sition: Treasurer. FT. 1\. Rue; register
of deeds. (). .1. Wngnilil : judge of probate,
John Woolsteneroft ; county attorney. L.
F. Lamniers ; coroner, D. P. Maitland ;
clerk of court, William Crawford ; com-
nii.'^<ioner second district. Henry G. Aii-
der.son. Those selected widi opposition
were as follows :
Congressman — .latnes 'I". MiClcary.
835; Gilbert Gutter,scn. 799.
Senator— L. O. 'I'eigen. 931 ; Henry K.
Hanson, 494 ; C. W. Cillam. 213.
Representative — Charles Winzer, 87(! ;
Jolin E. Kilen. 531.
Auditor— P. 1). .MiKrllar, l.li:; A. H.
SI long, 502.
Sheriff- G. W. Kveland, 453; Emory
Olson. 2S2; Henry Beck. 352; J. J. Egge.
Sii|)eriiit('ndent of Schools — .1. .\.
Mansfield. S73 ; Gilbert Hovelsrud. 530.
Commi.ssiouer Fifth District — A. C. Ol-
son. 330; A. J. Lindberg. 182.
Tli(^ democrats cliosc the following with-
oiii o|)]io<itioii : Congressman, W. S.
Ihinimond; representative, A. P. Van-
Dam; treasurer, Bruno Poppitz: sheriff.
of their noniinoos. and undor tho primary law
they are Icpally entttlt-d tn do .so. For in-
stance: Thr law provkles that a primary voter
shall vote the ticket of that party, the major-
ity of whos.' nominees he supj>orled at the pre-
eedlntr Keneral election. A democrat might
have voted for every nominee of his party In
the ceneral election of 1902 (also votitiR for the
republicans who had no opposition) and yet
vote the republican ballot at the primary elec-
tion of 1904.
"Vote of other candidates not given.
='The county commissioners on July 22, 1904.
ri'dlstricted tlie county into commissioner dis-
tricts as follows: No. I. Sioux Valley. Min-
neota. MIddletown. retersburir. Wisi-onsin and
Alpha; No. 2. Pis Moiaes, Hiinlir and Jackson:
No. S. Kost. Wcsl Hiroii lake. Welmer. Heron
Lake township. Lakdleld and Wilder; No. 4.
Hound Lake. KwinRlon .Mba. LnCrosse and
Heron Lake villaR.-; No. 5. Delandd. Chris-
tlania. Kimball, Belmont and Enterprise.
"Has served as chairman from July H. 1904.
to the present time.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
209
Henry TerHaar; clerk of court, A. M.
Schroeder; surveyor, J. J. Babcock.
The prohibitionists selected David A.
Tucker for congressman, and Charles M.
Fornian for representative.
So far as county politics were concern-
ed, party lines were ignored at the elec-
tion of 190(). The election closely follow-
ed the bitter county seat contest, and the
jiolitical affiliation.s of the candidates had
little weight with the voters. But the ac-
tions and sympathies of the various nomi-
nees during the iiglit and their geographi-
cal location had considerable weight; resi-
dents of the north and west parts of the
county voted almost solidly for men who
had been in sympathy with Lakefield in
its attempts to remove the county seat,
while those of the east and south part of
tlie county voted as solidly for men who
had favored Jackson. Many political ob-
ligations were paid at the election of
190fi ; friends were rewarded, enemies were
punished.
For tlie first and only time in the his-
tory of Jackson county a democrat car-
ried the county for governor, John A.
Johnson receiving a plurality of 102 over
A. L. Cole. The republicans carried the
county for the other state and district of-
fices. In the county election the republi-
cans elected seven nominees, the democrats
three, and two independent candidates
were chosen. Twent\ -seven hundred for-
ty-seven votes were cast. The official vote
was as follows :
Governor — A. L. Cole (rep.), 1,3.53;
John A. Johnson (dem.). 1,355.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.), I,4(i9; W. S. Hammond (dem.),
1,149.
Senator — Henry E. Hanson (rep.),
•2,194.
Representative — Charles AVinzer (rep.),
iA2-i: A, P. VanDam (dem.). 1,037; C.
M. Forman (pro.), 191.
Auditor— P. D. Mclvellar (rep.), 1,549;
John Baldwin (ind.), 1,198.
Treasurer— H. K. Rue (rep.), 1,453;
Bruno Poppitz (dem.), 1,198.
Register of Deeds — 0. J. Wagnild
(rep.), 1,380; L. J. Dostal (dem.),
1,333.
Clerk of Court — William Crawford
(rep.). 1,138; A. M. Schrocder (dem.),
1,548.
Sheriff — Henry TerHaar (dem.),
1,403; M. B. Dunn (ind.), 1,310.
Judge of Probate — John Woolstencroft
(rep.), 1,311 ; C. H. Sandon (ind.), 1,375.
County Attorney — L. F. Lammers
(rep.), 1,377; E. T. Smith (ind.), 1,335.
Superintendent of Schools — J. A.
Mansfield (rep.), 1.117: J. B. Arp (ind.),
1,830; Laura T. Olson (ind.), 773.
Coroner— D. P. Maitland (rep.), 3,047.
Surveyor — J. J. Babcock (dem.), 1,999.
Commissioner Second District — Henry
G. Anderson (rep.), 457.
Commissioner Fifth District — Andrew
C. Olson (rep.), 397.
At the primary election of 1908 the fol-
lowing republicans were nominated
without opposition : Auditor, P. D. Mc-
Tvellar; sheriff, 0. C. Lee; superintendent
of schools, J. B. Arp ; commissioner fourth
district, Duncan McNab. Where there
was more than one candidate for the same
office the results were as follows :
Congressmae — Paul A. Ewert, 317; Gil-
bert Guttersen, 583 ; James T. MeCleary,
C87.
Representative — A. A. Fosness, 966;
Charles Winzer, 541.
Treasurer — Henry Knudson, 486; H.
K. Rue, 1,131.
Register of Deeds — A. J. Nestrud,
834; Peter J. Reinen, 693.
Judge of Probate— C. H. Sandon, 950;
T. H. Stall, 597.
County Attorney — L. F. Lammers, 633 ;
J. A. Mansfield. 955.
210
HlSTOl.'V OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Corouci — ir. T.. Ar/t. TKi: Tver S. IV'ii-
6on, 635.
Coiiimissioaor Tliinl DistriuL — David
Crawford. 258; William Eost, 157.
Again a few democrats filed for I he
nomination and were selected without op-
j)o.sition. Tlicy were: Congressman, W.
S. Hammond ; representative, Jolin Ralil-
win ; sheriff, Henry Tcrllaar: register of
deeds, L. J. Doslal ; surveyor, J. J. Bab-
eock ; superintendent of schools, !Mrs. Del-
ia Best; commissioner first district, Hen-
ry Thielvoldt.
At the last general election lu'l<l in
Jackson county before tlic ])ul)lication of
this liistorv, that held in Xoveniber, 1908,
2,831 was tlie higliest number of votes
ca.st for any one office. The republicans
carried the county for the national and
state tickets and elected the auditor, treas-
urer, judge of probate, county attorney,
.superintendent of schools, coroner and two
commissioners; the democrats carried the
county for congressman (the second time
in the county's history) and elected the
representative, register of deeds, sheriff,
surveyor and one commi.s.sioncr. The of-
ficial vote of the general election of 1908:
President— William H. Taft (rep.),
1,575; William J. Bryan (deni.). 1.013.="
Governor — Jacob F. Jacobson (rep.),
1.364: John A. Johnson (dem.). 1.289.
Congressman — James T. McCleary
(rep.). 1.187: W. S. Hammond (dem.),
1.626.
Representative — .\. A. Fosness (rep.),
1,340; John Baldwin (dem.). 1.481.
Auditor— P. D. 'McKcllar (rep.). 2.433.
Treasurer— H. K. IJue (rep.), 2,352.
Register of Deeds — Albert J. Nestrucl
(rep.). 1.337; L. J. Dostal (dem.), 1.13S.
Sheriff— 0. C. Lee (rep.), 1,099; Hen-
ry TerHaar (dem.). 1.709.
Judge of Probate — C. H. Sandon
(rep.). 1,863; Eafdabl (ind.), 810.
=»Thc vole is given for only the two leading
c-indidates.
County Attorney — J. A. .M:iiisfield
(rep.), 2,378.
Surveyor— J. .1. Haiicock (dem.). 1,919.
Superintendent of Schools — J. B. Arji
(rep.), 1,885: Mrs. Delia Best (dem.).
1.772.
Coroner- 11. !.. Arzt (rep.), 2,077.
Commissioner First District — Henry
Thielvoldt (dem.), 384.
Commissioner Third District — David
Crawford (rep.), 474.
Commi.-sioner Fourth Distrct — lluncan
McNab (rep.), 375.
And now the political history of Jack-
son county is brought to a close. H cov-
ers a period from the time in 1858 when
the first county official took the oath of
office — when there was a mere handful of
men in tlie county who availed themselves
of the ]irivileges of voting — up to and in-
cluding the last general election before the
date of publication of this volume, at
which time the total vote reached nearly
3,000. A brief summary of the condi-
tions during thi.« time may not be out of
place.
The county has always been normally
republican. In the early days it was con-
sidered a disgrace, and almost a crime,
to have other political affiliations. There
liavc 111 in county elections held when every
vole was for tlie re])ul)lican ticket. .M-
though tlie party of Jefferson polled 1,150
votes at one election, it has never carried
the county for the national ticket : the
nearest it came was in 1892, when the
Cleveland electors were only 48 votes be-
liind those of Harrison.
During the entire early history of the
county and up to 1886, the republican
party was the only one maintaining an
organization. But during this time tliere
was a strong indeiicndent movement, kept
alive by one faction of the republican par-
ty and tlie few democrats, which opposed
the republican organization and on sev-
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
211
eral occasions gained control of county
politics.
With the later settlement of the coun-
ty came the organization of the demo-
cratic part}' — in the middle eighties — and
since that time it lir.s been a factor in
cimnty ])olitics, although always as the
minority jjarty. On one occasion it car-
ried the county for its candidate for gov-
ernor; at two elections it has returned
majorities for its nominees for congres.s-
man ; on several occasions it has secured
majorities for legislative candidates.
During the free silver days of the nine-
ties the people* party came into existence,
and for a few years was a power in coun-
ty politics. Wlien ils power began to
wane, fusion was accomplished with tlio
democrats, and for some time longer the
combined forces furnished strong opposi-
tion to the dominant party.
The prohibitionist- liave never been
very strong in Jackson county. In one
or two campaigns they placed nominees
for county offices in the field, but they
liave not maintained a permanent organi-
zation. The socialists and other minor
parties have little or no strength in the
county, and have never had organizations.
While the county is normally republi-
can, normal conditions are rarely normal
(if such an expre.ssion may be used).
There is a strong independent vote, not
bound to any party, which sways the
county from the dominant party frecjuent-
ly when it is believed better candidates
npi)ear u]ion another ticket.
Jackson county has been fortunate in
its selection of county officers. During its
political hi.story of 51 years, there has not
been a defaulting county officer, so far as
I am able to learn. Xor has there been a
removal Ijecause of criminal action or in-
competence.
3
03
9
O OS
w «,
<
^ si
c
•a
s
c
v
Oi
•o
5
c
a
6
o
CHAPTER XVI.
JAC'RSOX— 185(;-1869.
JACKSON, the capital of Jackson
county, is the oldest and largest town
in the county. It is located on the Des
.Moines river, and its elevation ahove sea
level is 1,353 feet.' It is on tlie Southern
Minnesota division of the CHiicago, Milwau-
kee it St. Paul ladroad, and is a division
l)oint of that roaih Otherwise described,
Jack.'^on is in tlie soutlieastern part of
Jackson county, the business center of the
village being fifteen and one-half miles
from the northern boundary, eight and
one-half miles from the southern bound-
ary, six and three-quarters miles fronr the
eastern liorder, and twent3"-three and one-
quarter miles from the western boundary
line of the county.
The population of Jackson, according
to the census of 1905, was 1,776, but there
has been an increase since that, and a
census today would sliow a population of
about 2,000. Jackson is one of tlie progres-
sive and prosperous towns of southwestern
Minnesota. All lines of business that are
to be found in the towns of the agricultur-
al communities of the upper Mississippi
valley are represented. It is noted for
its schools, churches and social organ-
izations, and in this respect it is the peer
of any town of its size in the state.
'This is the elevation of the business part of
town. The elevation of Depot hill is 1,446 feet.
while the Des Moines river at Jackson is 1.288
feet above sea level.
The location of Jackson, considered in
its natural state, is one of unusual beauty;
southwestern Minnesota has not a more
lovely spot. Here the Des Moines river
forms a semi-circle, and on the hills and
benches on either side of that stream is
Iniilded the city. On the east side are
Iiills and bluffs, covered with a heavy
growth of natural timber ; on the west side
are a succession of benches. On the lower
bench is the business part of the city,
while on the higher ground of the ne.xt
rise is the residence portion. The bluffs
and hills surrounding protect the little
city from the wintry winds of the prairies.
In the summer season, when the beau-
tiful natural parks that surround the town
are clothed in emerald foliage, even he
who has not the esthetical nature is moved.
Tlie lover of landscapes, as he stands
upon one of the tree-crested hill tops of
the east side and gazes upon the little city
of Jackson, nestling in the valley and
perched upon the sunny hillsides, with
the sparkling water of the Des Moines
flowing below him, sees a picture of beau-
ty and is led to exclaim, "What a beauti-
ful sight!"' In its natural state and with
the embellishments added by the hands of
man, Jackson stands at the present time
as one of the prettiest little cities of a state
distinguished for its pretty towns. Especi-
213
214
lIlSTnllV OK JACK SOX rorXTY
ally !.•; one clianiu'd with its lovcliiuss in
the punimor. Tlu'ii tlic hroad avcnuo.s and
|iark.< art' ilntlicd in liiiijlitest fn't'i'"- Trees
are everywhere.
One can liardly rcidize that only a lit-
tle over a lialf c-entury ago this spot was
an iineharted wilderness, praetieally un-
known to white men; yet such is the case.
Time was when the du.sky red man pitch-
ed his tepee where now our churches are
located ; vast herds of bison inhal)itcd the
Des Moines river country and made their
wallows where now our courts are held ;
timid deer browsed whore now the pupil
studies his natural hi.^tory: elk in count-
less numbers roamed the adjacent prai-
ries and saw their antlers reflected in the
clear waters of the I)es Moines as they
bent down to drink.
When the tirst white man set foot on
the soil of the present site of Jackson is
unknown. Probably he was some adven-
turous trapper who liad pushed out beyond
his associates in an endeavor to locate new-
grounds in which to ply his trade. Possi-
bly he was one of the early explorers of
southwestern l^Iinnesota.
When the first ])ermancnt settler came
to Jackson county he selected the spot u])-
on which Jackson now stands as a town-
site, haviiifT practically the whole of south-
western ilinncsota to choose from, ft was
durinj: the summer of 18.")(i that the Wood
brothers — William, (ieorge and Charles —
selected their claims, built a cabin, opened
a store and clirisfened the site of their pro-
posed town Springfield. The store was
built in the northwestern part of the pres-
ent incorporated town, but their claims
took in practically all of the present Jack-
son west of the river and a part of that on
the cast .side. The same year other pio-
neers settled along the Des Jloines river
in Jackson county, but none of them lo-
cated on the Wood l)rotliers' claims. A few,
however, took claims and built their cab-
in.-; within the jiivsent corporate limits of
the town, on the east side of the river.
Among these wnv William Church, who
l(X-ated with his family just south of the
present location of tlie elevators; Josluia
Stewart, who with his family lived in the
southeastern part of the present town;
William T. Wheeler, who erected a cabin
south of the Jackson dcjiot and then de-
parted.
It is not necc.=sary lo tell again of the
tragedies that occurred on the Jackson
townsite on that eventful 2Gth of JFarch.
IS,") 7 — of the murder of the Wood l)rothers
and the sacking of their store, of the other
murders in the vicinity, and of the flight
from Springfield. On that day the ,«oil
of Jackson was drenched in human blood.
Very soon after the massacre Ale.xander
Wood, a brother of the murdered storekeep-
ers, came to take ])ossession of his broth-
ers' claims. He formed a partnership with
a company of townsite boomers, with the
intention of building a town on the land.
Elaborate plans were made for the new-
town, which was to bo named Jackson. Mr.
Wood was to hold the land claim, the
other members of the company were to
make certain stipulated improvement',
and they were to acquire a half interest in
(he site. On the .>;(rength of these i)ro-
posed improvements, Jackson — then only
a name — was designated the county .^eat
of .Tack.*on county when it was created by
act of the legislature on May 2:], 1857.
Des])ite the jirestige (his legislation gave,
the townsite company did not fulfil its
promises by making the improvements.
Jfr. Wood did not care to endure the bard-
ships incident to a w-inter jja.^sed on the
frontier, go he gave up the idea of becom-
ing the founder of a tow-n and filed on a
(piarter section only of his brothers' claims,
not as a townsite claim but as a farm
claim."
-Tlii.s claim included the north part of the
present business and residence part of Jack-
HISTOm^ OF .TACKSON COUNTY.
215
F(iv several years thereafter immigra-
tion to Jackson count}- was not great, and,
Mlthmigh the belief was often expressed
that a town would some day he liuilt on
the site, no attempt to found a town was
made until after the war. Mr. Wood con-
tinued to hold !iis claim and made some
nnprovemcnts on it. It is said that the
first plowing on (iie townsite was done by
Stephen ^[uck, «ho aftei'wards became
blind. He was the son of Joseph ]\Iuck
and was employed by Mr. Wood.
During the late fifties and the sixties all
of the land now included in the corporate
limits of the village was filed on, but ti-
tle was not received fiom the government
to the last tract until early in 1873. Fol-
lowing are the names of those who re-
ceived patents to tlic land, the date of the
patents, the 'description and acreage of
the claims :
NAME
DATE OF PATENT
ACRES
DESCRIPTION
Stephen F. Johnson
Sept. 15, 1864
June 1. 1868
May 1, 1863
Dec. 1, 1865
Aug. 1, 1872
April 20, 1862
May 1, 1866
Sept. 1, 1860
Sept. 15, 1864
April 2, 1866
June 1, 1868
Aug. 1, 1872
March 4, 1865
May 1. 1863
Aug. 1, 1872
Aug. 1, 1872
Feb. 1, 1873
40
40
40
80
40
160
80
160
40
40
120
80
40
160
120
40
80
80
nw 14 of nw 14 24
sw 14 of nw I4 24
se 14 of sw ti 24 1
n !'2 of seU 24
sw 14 of sw '4 24
ne U 24
s tj of se '4 24
n 1 7 of sw 1 4 and e ^7 of n w
ne I4 of ne 4 23
nw 14 of se 14 23
s '2 and "w \i of ne 4 23
s V2 of se I4 23
ne 4 of se 4 23
s ! 2 of ne I4 and s ',2 of nw
n 1 2 of ne 4 and ne 4 of nw
nw 14 of nw 14 25
e 1 , of ne 4 26
w 14 of ne 4 26
M24
14 25
425
Hiram S Baitev
Israel F Eddy
Bartholomew McCarthy
Stephen F. Johnson
Arthur L Crane
State of Minnesota < ....
Stiles M. West
Hii'am S. Bailey
Benj. D. Dayton
Wilson C. Garratt
During the time these claims were being-
filed upon and before Jackson was . plat-
ted a few cabins were erected. On the
east side of the river stood the old fort
whicli had lieen erected by the soldiers after
the massacre of 18(52 : the Joseph Thom-
as cabin, whicli had been erected by
William 'r. Wheeler in lS5<i ; and the cal)-
in ol' Israel F. Eddy on Depot hill. The
iirst Iniilding erected on the west side, ex-
cej)t Wood brothers' store and a cabin built
son. described a.s the north half of the south-
west quarter and the east half of the north-
west quarter of section 24. Mr. "W^ood received
his patent from the government September 1.
1860.
^The oldest deed on record in Jackson county
is dated May 2S. 18S4. when James B. Palmer
and his wife. Aminda Palmer, conveyed this
land to Jane R. Bailev for a consideration of
$500.
'This tract was conveyed by the state of
Minnesota to the Southern Minnesota Railroad
company as a part of the grant.
near by in 1858 by Dr. E. B. N. Strong,
was a house built by Major H. S. Bailey
in 1865, on his claim just south of the
town proper.
After the civil war there was quite a
large immigration to Jackson county,
nearly all settling along the river. Among
tliose w-ho came to the immediate vicinity
of Jackson was William Webster, who
constructed a dam across the river and
began the erection of a saw mill in 1865.
Owing to lack of capital, he did not com-
plete it that year, but in 1866 AVelch Ash-
ley took over the property and completed
it. In this mill was sawed nearly all the
lumber used in the construction of Jack-
son's first buildings.
Two arrivals at the site in 1865 who
were to play an important part in the ear-
216
HISTOUY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
ly history of Jackson were Major Hiram
S. Bailey, who filed upon a claim now ly-
ing within the corporate limits of the
town, and Welch Ashley, who came from
Pennsylvania looking for a location in the
western country. They were impressed by
the beauties of the site and decided that
the prospective immigration to the vicin-
ity would warrant the founding of a town.
Accordingly they bought the Alexiuider
Wood farm, platted it in the fall of 1866,
and named their town Jackson.'
The dedication, which was acknowl-
edged December 1, 1866, and recorded a
few days later, was made in the follow-
ing language:
Tlie towiisite of Jackson, in Jackson county,
in tlio state of .Minnesota, as it is laid out
and platted by Messrs. \V. Ashley and II. S.
Bailey is described as follows, towit: Com-
mencing at a point (3;)) thirty -five rods west
of the center of section No. ('24) twenty -four,
in town Xo. (102) one hundred and two north
of range No. (35) thirty-live west; thence
running south (110) one hundred and ten
rods; thence west 7.5 rods; thence north (110)
one hundred and ten rods; thence east (75)
seventy-five rods to place of heginninf?, con-
taining (51 11-10) fifty one nine sixteenths
acres, all on land owned by W. Asliley and II.
S. nailey. The above described land is divid-
ed into" (35) thirty-five blocks of (8) eight
lots each. Each lol is (3 by 5) three by five
rods. The streets between the blocks are
four rods wide. There are also alleys between
the lots running north and south of one rod
in width.
WELCH ASHLEY,
H. S. BAILEY,
Proprietors.
Jackson, Minn., Deccnibcr 1. ISCili.
I hereby certify that the within is a correct
description of the townsite of Jackson, in
Jackson county, and state of Minnesota, as it
is survevcd and platted.
IIIRAM S. BAILEY.
Notary Public. Jackson County, .Minnesota.
Recorded December 10, 9 o'clock a. m., 1860.
'The name of the county was prolKibl.v re-
sponsible for the name of the town. It will be
rememlierod that so early as the spring of 1857
Alexander Wood had named the site Jackson
and that the Minnesota legislature of that
year had designated "Jarkson" as the rounty
seat of Jaek.son county, .so that the name of
the townslte Is. In fact, older than the county.
Possibly the fact that n township near Welch
Ashley's old home In Pcnn.sylvania was so
named had Its Innucnce In the selection of the
name by Messrs. Ashley and Bailey.
The original plat con.sijtcd of tliirty-five
blocks. The streets running east and west
were named Sheridan, Grant, Sherman,
-Vshley, White, I^aiicy and South. Those
running north and south were named Kiv-
er. Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and
Si.xth. A stone was .'^et in the ground to
mark the center of the southwest quarter
of section 21, and this was at the inter-
section of Fourth and White streets.'
Some two or three months before the
plat became of record the tirst building
was put up and the Jackson townsite
boasted its fir.st inliabitants. These were
Thomas H. WJiite and George C. Cham-
berlin. They first came to the site one
(lay in the month of August, 1866,' in-
vcstigatetl the prospects of the new town,
'.Vddltlons to Jackson have been platted a.i
follows:
Baileys— Surveyed by C Chamberlln; dedi-
cated by Hlmm S. Bailey October 27. 1S69.
Dum()nt's Subdivision — Surveyed l)y James E.
Palmer; dedicated bv John B, Dumont Septem-
ber II. 1S84.
P. Brown's — Surveyed by L. L. Palmer; dedi-
cated by P. Brown August 13, 1885.
Ashley & Moore's Subdivision— Surveyed by
L. I.. Palmer; dedicated by Benjamin W. Ash-
ley and George R. Moore October 8, 1892.
Anderson & l.lndsley's— Surveyed by J. I-.
Hoist; dedicated bv H. G. Anderson and F. W.
l.indsley June 19, 1895.
Krause's — Surveyed by J. L. Hoist; dedicated
by William Krauso June 21. 1895.
Highland Park — Surveyed bv J. L. Hoist; ded-
icated by George W. Priest and William C.
Portmann September 30. 1895.
Owens' — Surveyed by J. 1.,. Hoist; dedicated
by Even Owens October 17, 1899.
Louis Klesel's Second — Surveyed by J. L.
Hoist; dedicated by Louis Klesel January 9,
1900.
Ashley & Moore's Second — Surveyed by
(ieorge E. Sawyer; dedicated by B. W. Ashley
and George R. Moore December 4, 1900.
Central Park — Surveyed by J. L. Hoist; ded-
icated by John Paulson July 8, 1901.
Brown's Terrace — Surveyed hy J. L. Hoist;
dedicated by J. K. Brown June 16, 1902.
'" . . . Previous to making Jack.son my
home I bad resided for a short time at Blue
Earth ("ity. and it was here I first met my
friend t'liamberlin in Minnesota, although I had
known him for sevi-ral >'ears In the east. Dur-
ing our tlrst interview I told him of a recent
trip to Jackson and of my determination to lo-
cate there. I described the townslte as one of
nature's wonders — the surroundings as all that
could be desired — and expressed the opinion
that Jackson would at no distant day be a
prosperous and growing town. I also informed
him that I had engaged Jim Pratt to take out
,1 load of building material and that I would
return in four or Hvc days to erect a buildlnp
and prepare for winter. It was soon arranged
that he should accomp.an.v me to the promised
land."— Thomas H. White In Jackson Republic
March 9. 1888.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
217
and returned to their temporary homes at
Blue Earth City the next day.* Mr.
Chamberlin was absent two weeks and
then came back to Jacksou on September
1. lie tells of the new town as he found
it on that date:
1 found tliat during my absence, by virtue
of tlie surveyors' eliain, Jackson liad made a
wonderful advancement toward metropolitan
iniiportions. It now actually contained 150 or
20U corner lots, several hundred lot stakes.
street stake's and alley stakes.
Mr. White returned to his new home
some time in September, bringing with
him more stock for the store which he
]iro posed to open. He also brought a wife,
having been married since his previous
visit to Jackson. Welch Ashley's saw mill
li.i\ iui; bi'i'ii )int in operation by this time.
.Mr. Wliite at once began the erection of
his store building, the first load of lumber
having lipcn hauled in the site by ^lenzn
Ashley. For temporary quarters a shelter
wa.s made by taking four joists and nailing
rough boards around tlu"'m six or seven
fi'ct liigli: two shelter tents provided the
roof. When this was completed Mrs. AVhite
prepared sup])er. a table was made by
]ilaeing a board on a tool chest and box,
and Mr. and Mrs. White and Mr. Cham-
berlin sat down to partake of the first re-
]iast served in the village of Jackson.
The store, which was erected at the cor-
ner of Second and White streets, where
Robertson's implement house now stands,
was completed in October. It still stands,
forming a part of the implement house. It
'"We [Chamberlin and White] arrived in
Jackson the next afternoon [in August. lS6fi]
and stopped at Thomas' old log hotel, the only
stopping place of the kind in the country. The
next morning we went down through the tim-
ber, crossed the river lo Jackson — yes. to Jack-
son. All there was then of Jackson was tall
prairie grass, but we pronounced the surround-
ings and situation good and left. The next day
we set out on our return to Blue Earth. Some-
where on the prairie after we started out we
met a company of engineers on their way to
survey a line for the Southern Minnesota rail-
road. I was unsophisticated then and supposed
that surveying a railroad meant a railroad In
the near future, and right then and there decid-
ed to cast my lot in the new town. . . ." —
George C. Chnmlierlin in a speech delivered
September 5, 1889.
13
is built entirely of native lumber and is
about 18x20 feet in size, with a small up-
stairs rocnn. The store was opened as .soon
as the building was completed, and soon
customers came with their muskrat, mink
and other pelts to exchange for calico and
groceries." Mr. White conducted the store
until February, 1868. Then J. W. Hunter
Ixiught the stock at sheriff's sale and con-
tinued the store.
The White store was the only building
erected in Jackson in 1866, and during the
following winter Mr. and Mrs. White were
the only residents on tlie town, Mr. Cham-
berlin having spent the winter in St. Paul.
Upon his return to Jackson he took charge
of the store while the proprietor and his
wife s|)ent two months visiting in the east-
ern part of the state. Mr. Chamberlin
has written: "Hence from the "^'^nd of
March to the 'i'^nd of Mav, 1867, I was
"Concerning events of this time Mrs. W. L.
White in 1S95 wrote:
•■Twenty-eight years ago last September I
left my old home in Faribault county for the
wilds of the west — even as far out as Jackson
county. We took but few household goods
with us. expecting to have them come later
with a small stock of goods for the store. It
was our intention to board at Mr. Thomas'
hotel until our store and dwelling combined
could be built; but when we arrived we learned
to our disappointment that the lumber was not
all sawed yet. I have forgotten now what
was the cause, but think it was either the
great demand for lumber or they were waiting
for the timber to grow. Anyway, our plan
of getting plenty of help and rushing the build-
ing rl.ght along had to be given up. After stay-
ing at the hotel a few days, we decided to go
to house-keeping in a tent pitched on the
bcaiuiful townsite of Jackson.
"The weather favored us. being perfectly de-
lightful during October. Not having been in
the house-keeping business very extensively for
some time previous, and necessarily having very
few conveniences in so small ciuarters, I did
not find it the all-absorbing pleasure it is sup-
posed to be — by the men. Of course, if I could
have washed windows and doors and scrubbed
floors, and so kept real busy all the time. I
might have enjoyed tenting better tnan I aid.
Finally, after taking the boards as they dropped
oft the logs as the saw plowed through them,
we got our building enclosed, the roof on. the
loose boards down for the floor, and moved
into the up-stairs of the first building in Jack-
son. But in spite of our late fall, the whole
structure was so very green that it was badly
frost-bitten. I wonder quite frequently at the
present time how we managed to exist in the
building that winter, unfinished, as it was; but
I remember how our sheet-iron stove used to
blaze with heat, and I presume the parties who
sold us the wood we burned realized that we
were not at all economical in that line.
"There was no necessity for night-watchmen
218
lllSTUUV OF .lACK.SO.N CULWl'V
tho only inliaMtniit of Jackson. Certainly
society circles were select (luring those
two months, waiving iill ilainis to respec-
tahility." During these early tlays of
Jackson's history Mr. C'iianiherlin acted in
the ca])acity of advertising agent, and (juite
a number nf the town's early residents
came as a result of his representations. He
opened u]) a correspondence with thirteen
newspapers in different parts of the coun-
try from Minnesota to the far east, telling
nf the vacant government lands to be se-
cured and advantages in the new country,
with a view to attracting new settlers.
During the winter of 186t)-G~ the first
bridge at Jackson, located where tlie low-
er bridge is now, was built. It was built of
oak piles and hewn himlier, furnished by
Welch -Vsldey, and tiie work of building
the structure was donated. The bridge
was not long in commission, for the ice
took it out in the spring of 1867.'"
In those days. We had quite a number of
boxes of goods outside our tent (from which we
sold to an occasional customer Ihrnugh the
da.v). and they never were disturbed in any way.
. *. Jackson in those days was noted for
one thing — scarcity of money — and as a conse-
quence too much credit was asked to insure a
successful business. While some asked credit
with the assurance of millionaires, once In a
while a man offered some security. I have in
mind one case; a man with a large share of
the alphabet for Initials came Into our store
one day and asked for a few things on time,
insisting on leaving as security a couple of
plated wine goblels. They might have cost
$2.50 wholesale. .-Vfter this, on one promise or
another, he ran that little bill up to J25.00. and
the goblets were all we ever had for it. As
soon as he ran out of securities he left the
county. And yet in many other cases men were
not able to give any security. So. as some of
the present residents well know, our venture
In business was not a success.
"In the spring of 1S67 we went oft on a
sort of a wild goose chase and left mir Jolly
friend Chamberlln to look after our interests
during our absence; and he did it well. loo.
judging from one Item I now remember we
found on the book: 'To one darning needle, ten
cents.' 1 do not recall other mistakes. If there
were any. and being 'booked' could easily be
corrected, and our few cash customers did not
suffer to any great extent. Mr. Chamberlln
used to tell the Joke on himself, so probably
remembers It. Having lived there three and
one-half years. 1 became attached to the peo-
ple and place and was loth to leave."
"The second brlilge over the Des Moines riv-
er at Jackson was put ui) during 186!) and 1870
where the upper bridge is now. It was a bent
bridge and the stringers were whipped out by
hand. The county stood pari of the expense
of its construction and residents of Jackson
the rest. It was in commission about ten
In the sjiring of ISfiT Thomas H.
Wliiti' wa> appointed pa<tmaster of Jack-
son, and at once entered ii|)oii his duties.
Previous to this tiim- the postolfice had
been at the Thomas hotel on the east side
of the river, and Joseph Thoina.'' hail been
the postmaster. During those time.< the
office was ^upplied iiy weekly mail from
Emmet (Estherville). the carriers iieing
Major II. S. Bailey and his son, Frank
Bailey. .\t the old hotel on the hill the
settlers were wont to congregate every
Thur.sday to witness the arrival of the
mail, which contained the St. Paul Week-
ly Pre.ss. two weeks old, as the latest in-
telligence from the outside world. What
letters anil ])a|)ers were not handed out on
the s|)ot to the owners would l)e laid back
on a shelf to await the call of tlie owners.
Mr. White has wrilton nf his appointment
as postmaster :
It was a laniental)le fact tliat while we liv-
ed in tlie city we liail to po three-quarters of
a mile into the country for our mail. A
friend of Mr. .\iken iliner. from Killmorc
county, had stopped at my place for an hour
or so durinj; the winter and liud comprehended
our wants. On his return to Fillmore county
lie immediately took steps to have the writer
appointed postmaster, and this was apiinst
my wishes at that lime. However, the ap-
pointment came, and in due time the olTicc was
moved to town."
Jackson's second building was erected in
the spring of 18(u. It was built by Welch
.\shley for his son-in-law. Palmer Hill, on
the site nf the ]>ri'Si'nl .iaikson National
H.iiik liiiililiiig on Scmnil .-Irert. It was a
years. A combined Iron and wood bridge took
its place, and that was washed away during
the high water of ISSl. From its wreck an-
other was consiriHlid. The jiresent ui>per
bridge was put in tin or more years ago by
the county and township. The iireseni lower
bridge was built by the county and village
about 1889.
"Mr. White served as postmaster until ISGS.
Then J. W. Hunter received the appointment
and conducled the ofTlce at his store until IS7il.
On April li; of that year Moses A. Strong be-
came postmaster and served until October 4.
1877. In May. 1S71. the Jackson office was des-
ignated a nioniy order office, but it was not
until July that this department began oT>era-
tlons. Alexander FIddes succeeded Mr. Strong
and served until March. ISSfi. That month
John Fiddes became the Jackson postma.ster.
He .served until his death, which occurred May
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
219
two-story building, built of native lumber,
and was occupied by Mr. Hill for a wagon
shoi3 for three or four years. The family
lived up-slairs. It was in this building
that Jackson's first banlc was started. It
now stands on Third street and forms a
part of one of the buildings of the K. S.
Robertson lumber yard.
The season of 1867 was wet and back-
ward, and it was not until July or August
that the little saw urill could furnish suf-
ficient hnnber for the few contemplated
buildings of that year. Every board was-
taken possession of almost as soon as' it
left the .saw. The cause of the activity in
the building line was tlie arrival of two
families in July, who came to engage in
business and become permanent residents
of the village. These were the families of
VV. S. Kimball and Samuel M. Clark, who
increased the population of the Jackson
townsite from three to eleven — a gain of
over 200 per cent in one day.
Owing to the scarcity of lumber, these
new arrivals were obliged to take tem-
porary quarters in an improvised board
shanty located where the Ashley house
now stands. George C. Chamberlin, who
was about to erect a building, generous-
ly surrendered lumber and carpenter priv-
ileges, and those gentlemen began the con-
struction of business houses. Mr. Kimball,
who later became one of the best known
business men of the village, erected a .store
building on the corner south of the Ashley
house and opened a hardware store. His
was a two-story liuilding, and he and his
24. 1S87. D. M. DeVore served under appoint-
ment bv President Cleveland from August.
18S7, to August 1. 18S9. From that date until
November. 189,3. Alexander Fiddes was again
in charge of the oftice. From that time until
November 2, 1S97. the office was under demo-
cratic admini-stration and V. B. Crane was the
postmaster. Herman Strom then became the
postoffice official and served until February 1.
1902. He resigned and Alexander Fiddes again
received the appointment. Mr. Fiddes has since
conducted the office. He has served nearly
twenty-three years as Jackson's postmaster.
family resided upstairs.^- Mr. Clark erect-
ed a dwelling house on the site of the
jjresent Cowing block, and a blacksmith
shop just to the ca?t of his house. An-
other building erected in Jackson in 1<SG7
was the office and dwelling house put up
by .Ml'. Cliaiiibci'liu. This stood at tlie
corner of -Second and Ashley streets. When
it was moved in 1889 to make room for
llic IJcrge block, ilr. Chaiiilicrliu gave
the history of the liuilding, as follows:
Conseciuently this v.as miniber foiu' in tlie
order of areliiteetiu'al enterprises during the
starvation season of 1807. Tlie half iiicli bass-
wood boards used as siding were unloaded on
tlie grass just south of Cowing's old store, and
nearby stood a carpenter's bench, where one
side of those boards was smoothed by the
acting carpenter. I suppose one hundred
teams now pass to and fro within the time
then occupied by that brevet carpenter in
dressing one-half dozen boards, but he gave
as a reason for the slow progress that the
l]oards should be thoroughly seasoned before
using.
^-Mrs. Frances M. Kimball, wife of W. S.
Kimball, in 1S95 wrote of her arrival to Jack-
son:
"The little cottage in the village of Austin
had been sold, tlie last goodbyes spoken, and
we had started on our westward journey in
the good, old-fashioned way. hoping to build
our fortune by supplying the early settlers
with the stock of hardware that had been pur-
chased for the new town. On the outskirts of
the city which had 'oeen our home for years,
we were joined by the family of an honest
blacksmith, familiarly known as Sam Clark.
The season was an unusually rainy one. the
newly laid out roads almost impassable and
the streams unbridged. Only those who have
traveled in like manner can realize the joy we
felt as our train drew up before the log cabin
of Uncle Joe Thomas, and, although almost
twenty-eight years have elapsed since we
reached the wooded bluffs on the Des Moines,
I remembei' still the good warm meal that was
set before us, and that bed! It may not have
been down, but it seemed as such to us after
those long nights of camping.
"But where was Jackson? This was the
ciuestion I asked my husband as we stood on
the banks of the bridgeless river. Silently he
pointed to the little sawmill at our feet and
the small, unfinished dwelling in the valley.
These were the only signs of habitation as far
as the eye could see; not a roadway to tell of
neighboring villages; only the redman's path,
a too vivid reminder of the terrible mas.sacre
that had so recently swept our borders. Trees
were felled, and soon the little mill had pro-
vided us with boards enough for a small one-
room shanty, which we shared In common with
the blacksmith. September came, and the north
half of the building now owned and occupied
by Ole F-. Olson was ready for occupancy, and
the two families were moved to the second
stor.v. To be sure it was neither lathed nor
plastered. There were no partitions, and the
roof rose like the dome of a church over our
heads, but we did not complain though the
winter was long and severe, for such is the life
of pioneers."
220
iiisi()i;v (ti- .i.\( i\S()N corxTV.
It was the home of ulie wrili-r for sevi-nil
years; eoiinty olTiiers and comity commission-
ers here transacted their duties; dilTcrent
business yatherings were wont to convene
within its walls; social chit-chats, town gos-
siping, and local loafing generally seemed for
a tirae to drift to that building as headquar-
ters.
At one time Kev. Peter IJaker lield pro-
tracted meetings there, and the tunes and
))salms sung on that occasion were far more
sacred tlian those sung by the carpenter boys,
who almost every evening during the autumn
of 1808 assembled tlicre for intiTchange ol
songs and stories. That was a busy season,
and every room was occupied. The boys would
not only remain during the evening, but
brought "in their blankets and covered the Hoor
(luring the night. ...
.Justice courts were freciucntly held in this
building, and in this connection many curious
coincidents have already been recorded. The
first land trial after the United States land
oll'ice was moved to Jackson in 1869 was
licld in this building and laste.l until long
into the night. As rather a strange circum-
stance in this connection, tlie one before whom
the trial was had, the two contestants and
the h.ilf ilo/en or more witnesses have all lell
for distant parts. The two who acted ns at-
torneys, however, are still residents of Jack-
gon— "one of whom can appear on your streets
only with the aid of two crutches, while the
other is infirm and blind.
In the autumn of ISti!) another building
formed an addition to this structiue, where
early in 187(1 the Kepublic was born and llour-
isheil until 1874. . . . The ol.l .puirtcrs
were then used for a justice office and pea-
nut stand— as a gentleman crossing the street
read the sign. "".lustice and Peanuts for Salel"
In IStJfl this building was the nIVicc of conn
tv auditor anil register of deeds; in 18S!t it
serves the same purpose for court commission-
er and county surveyor; and I suppo.se in 1 !•()!•
it will be occupied by whoever may be the
scholastic and cultured persons filling the of-
fices of superintendent of schools and county
attorney, and the same oak shingles split and
.shaved "by JI. S. Clough in lSil7 "ill ].nilc,l
them from rain and storm.
Millun Masciii has described .linksnn as
he found it in the fall of 18(57:
In October. 18t)7. myself and family landed
nt Jackson, on the 20th. The first persons
whom I met were .losepli Thomas. Jr., and R.
1). Larnard. They assisted me down the sleep
embankment just" below the mill. We crossed
the river and made straight for Aiken Miner's.
I found ipiite a change in the townsite. 1
found a general store, well stocked. W. S.
Kimlmll's hardware store, Clark's blacksmith
shop, anil Joseph Thomas' hotel near by. I
also found the following families living near
by: .Major II. S. Uailey. Welch Ashley. Clark
Baldwin. R. X. Woodward. W. V. King. Darby
\\h;ileii. Hen .lohnson, Henjamin Dayton, Wil
~on tiarratt, Simon Olson and S. S. Ilregg.
During these pioneer times evcrv addi-
tion to tiie town wa.s cause for niui-ii coin-
iiienl and tonifralulation. 'Die residents
would jialiter around tlie carpenters as
thov would begin some little liuilding. and
that would be the princijial re.sort until
the building was completed.
.\u iinportaiit addition to the communi-
tv in tiic spring of ISCS was John W.
Cowing, who founded the town's second
general store, erecting a building in the
middle of tlie block between the jiresent
locations of the Kobert.son iniplement
house ami the .\lbcrlus clothing store."
.\nother arrival in IStiS was John A.
.Mvcrs. who o|icncd a store in a building
sitiiaU'd wlure the First National Hniik
now stands. This building was one and
one-half stories high and was erected ilur-
ing the summer by Welch .\shley. It was
llic first lath and plastered edifice erected
in Jackson county, the lime and lath hav-
ing been hauled by ox team from Mankato
by Menzo L. Ashley. This old store build-
ing si ill stands, to the east of the First
N'ational Raidc.
Duriiiii the late si.xties rivalry .sprang
up between the communities of the east
and west sides of the liver. It was learned
tliat the original jihit as laid nut by
Messrs. Ashley and Bailey wa.s. defective
for some cause or other, and in Jlay. 18t>S.
''■•Tliirtv years nRo last sprliiR a slim young
man drove over the hrow of the hill in front
of the Thomas place and tool< a look at the
lownslle of Jackson. He liatl liccn traveling
In a covered wagon and camping by the road-
side, looking for a location to commence life
for himself. The .sight was a pleasant one.
and before descending the steep hill to the ford
he lind decided that this was the place he had
heeii looking for. lie had live hundred dollars
In cash and some persm.al property. Securing
a lot he milnadid his plunder, and. Inlying an
ax he starled out to Iniy trees enougli to tinild
a store. Cutting and hauling the logs himself,
he soon had enough lumber to put up ;i small
liullding lf.x24 feet, on the lot now occupied
liy .\. K. Ol.son'.s store. It was .in Immense
store iHiildIng at that time, and Juhn \V. Cow-
ing soon had a small stock of goods displayed,
and his career as a merchant commenced." —
Republic. Octolier II. 1S98.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
221
Joseph Thomas platted a townsite on the
east side of the river, \vhich he also named
Jackson. Tliereafter for a year or more
there was some feeling between the two
communities and much speculation as to
wiiich would finally become "the town."'
The plat of the east side Jackson was dedi-
cated in the following language :
I. Joseph Thomas, do hereby certify this
May 2(5, 1868. that I have oavised a survey and
plat to he made of lands belonging to me and
situated on the north half of the southeast
quarter of section 24, town 102, range 35, to
be called the town of .lackson.
JOSEPH THOJIAS,
Proprietor.
The plat was surveyed by James E.
Palmer. It extended from the Des Moines
river to the Wisconsin township line and
consisted of eight blocks, in addition to
a Jiomestead reservation by Mr. Thomas
and small unplatted areas in tlie names
of P. Brown and C. Chamberlin. The east
and west streets were named Front street
and Oakland avenue : those running north
and south were River. First. Second,
Tliird, Fourth. Fifth and Sixtli. The plat
was filed for record May 26, 1868.
To rectify the errors of the original
plat of the west side Jackson, Messrs. Ash-
ley and Bailey had a new survey made on
October 30, 1868, by J. A. Dean. It was
practically the same as the old plat, but it
complied with the law, and was filed in
the office of the register of deeds Novem-
ber 4, 1868. That there might be no ques-
tion as to the validity of town property
titles, tlic matter was taken before the
state legislature, and on March 3. 1869. an
act was approved whicli legalized all deeds
and conveyances made, by the townsite
proprietors under the old plat.''^
"Section one of the act reads as follow.s:
■'That the plat of the town of Jackson, in the
county of Jackson, as offered for record by-
Welch Ashley and Hiram S. Bailey and re-
corded in the office of the register of deed.s of
said county on the first day of December. 1S66.
and as resuryeved and corrected by a plat made
by John A. Dean on the 30th day of October.
1S68. and filed for record in the office of the
register of deeds of said county on the 4th d^y
Moses A Strong, wlio came to the vil-
lage in January, 1869, has entertainingly
described the town as he found it at that
lime."
Tliere was then strife between east and
west .Jackson, and it was mixed which would
come out aliead. The cast side had the hotel,
and the west side the postofTice. In some re-
spects it looked as if the west side had the
adyantage and a little blue for the east siders.
After dinner we went "over the river;" they
did not call it "over town'' then. On the way
I took in the towns. On the east side was —
or, rather, had been — a store kept by one Rad-
ford, then retired, played out. closed out, lock-
ed out. He still liyed in an old house near by,
waiting for something to turn up. Charles
Chamberlin. a big mugwump of the east side,
had an unfinished house in the suburbs. One
Arkle was a shoemaker and pegged away in a
small house at the foot of the hill. Philander
Brown owned a patch of land on eacli side and
didn't care whicli way the cat jumped. Do\vn
at the river at the end of an old mill dam was
an old saw mill, and the proprietors, Cardwell
& Wiltsie, lived in an old house near by. This
was about all tliere was to the east side [ex-
cept .Joseph Thomas' hotel].
We crossed the river on the ice, there being
no bridges then. 'When there was no ice and
tlie water was low they crossed at the ford
lielow the pond; when it was high they didn't
cross at all.
Up on the west side, toward where the
bridge is now located, was a house owned by
B. W. Ashley. " Xext. the house of Palmer
Hill; across the way, Sam Clark's residence
and blacksmith shop: then a small store kept
li,v .J. A. Myers, a one-armed ex-soldier; across
the street was the hardware store of W. S.
Kimball. His family — wife, two young daugh-
ters and wife's sister — lived over the store.
Then came George Chamberlin's little oflfice
and bedroom combined. It was occupied by
Chamberlin and Garratt, as county auditor
and register of deeds office, and when both
were in there was no room for others. Mr.
01 Noyember. 1S6S. be, and the same is hereby,
legalized and established and declared to be
of the same force and effect in the law as if
the same was in strict conformit.v with the
statutes upon the subject of the laying out of
towns and the suryey thereof, and of the mak-
ing, certifying and recording of the plats
thereof: and the said plats are hereby de-
clared to be lawful and competent eyidence of
the contents thereof in all courts and places in
the same manner and with the same force and
effect as if the same had been in all respects
certified, acknowledged and recorded in strict
conformity with the statutes upon that subject
in force at the time when said plats were re-
spectiyely made. Proyided. that whenever the
said two plats differ from each other in any
respect, the said plat made by the said John
A. Dean for the said Welch Ashley and Hiram
S. Bailey, town proprietors, shall be deemed
paramount, and .shall to that extent supersede
the former plat."
"Published in Jackson Republic .\pril 25. 18S9.
?.22
lll.sT(ti;Y oy .IAL'K8U.\ I'UlW'TV.
Chamlicrliii was tlioii in .St. Pinil. a rlcrk in
till' li';;is!atiii«'.
Across 1)11 till' (ippiisitc loriu'r was tin- stori.'
f)l" llimtcr Hriitlicis -.1. \V. ami Daviil. Tlie
family, tlioii coiisistiiif; of .1. W.. David, Agnes
and tlieir motlier, lived in an addition to llie
store. .Tame.s W. Hunter was postmaster.
Elder |K(hvard| Sjivage assisted David and
had a room over llie store. Dr. Foster had a
little drug shop aiross the way and he and
his wife lived in one end. A little farther
along was the store of Cowing & White. They
lived over tlie store. Then came the residemc
and photograph gallery of T. II. White and
wife. Across the way was the feed store and
harness shop of Male & M\inger and wife.
Down at the en<l of the street lived Alex Hall,
who ran the .lacksim & Blue Earth t'ity stage.
Down by the bayou was the V.xft frame school
house. Xearby lived Chris, a half-<Ta/.y Nor-
wegian. This love-crackeil old man lived alone
and ma<lc furniture.
A little out of town lived Major Hailey and
family in a log house, and Wilson (Jarratt and
the Dayton families a little farther up the
creek. Pliilandir Brown and wife lived on the
bench, and Nathaniel Frost and family near
by.
This, if I remember correctly, was all llieri'
was to the west side.
An event of the greatest importance oc-
eiirrwl in the spring of 1809 ; then the
T'nitod Slate.s land office was moved from
Wiimcbago City to Jackson U])cin :iu order
issued hy ('omniissioner Wil.son."' That
event brought iiapi)ine.ss to (he liearts of
the people of the little idiniininity : tliey
knew then that JaeKson was to become
a town. It also settled the matter of the
supremacy of the two towns of Jackson,
as tlie office was located in the west side
village. A number of new residents were
"This office hail luen opened at Brownsville,
on the Mississippi river. In 1S.')4. with Messrs.
McKlnna and Welch In charge. In IS.Sfi It was
moved to rhaltielrt. and In ISiil to Winnebago
Citv. When the last named change was maile
Mr." HolUy w.is receiver and Mr. RuUis regis-
ter. When till' office was movi'il to Jackson
in 18BSI !•;. 1". I'recman went In as register and
J. B. Wakellilil as receiver. After the colony
Immigranis began to arrive and settle In the
Wiirthlnglon countr.v. the bulk of the huBlnesa
was In the west end of the district, and In the
spring of 1874 the government ordered the re-
moval from Jackson to Worthlngton.
Soon after the removal Mr. Kreeman retired
as register. He was succeeded b.v Dr. Leonard,
of Rochester, who held the office for a lime.
Thi' latler's appointment was not conllrmcd.
however and Captain ilons Grinager became
register in August. 1S74. He resigned June 1.
l.ssi;. having lield the office nearl.v tw<lve years.
In Januarv. 187.5. J. P. Moulton look the place
of Mr. Wakefield as receiver, and held It until
June. 1881. C. H. Smith was the next receiver,
added to tlie town iu 180!). Among them
were Moses A. Strong, who opencnl a drug
store: I>r. ('. 1*. .Morrill, the town's first
doctor: AltxaniKr Kiildes and several
others.
During the year Jackson became the
trading center of an immense territory.
Settlers from twenty miles up the river
and the same distance down came to .lack-
son for their mail and to do their trad-
ing: from thf numerous lakes and stream.*
lo the west am! northwest, around which
homestoaders were locating, came the
settlers frtuii long distances: those on
llenui and (iraliam lakes did all their
trading in Jackson; from beyond the west
line, of the state they came. The few
people living in the Siou.x Falls country
came lo .lackson to mill, and it is said
that riiilo llawe.-, who then lived on the
present .site ol' l.iivirne, once made the
little trip to Jackson to have a sickle re-
jiairetl. Jackson became a great market
for fur, which was in-actically the only
iiieiliuni of exchange in the country and
brought good prices.
W. S. Kimball was llie leading business
man of the town, and be carried (Ui an
enormous hardware tra<le. His goods were
shipped to the end of the railroad, at
Owatonna, Mankato or Winnebago City,
in ear-load lots. Fi-om those points they
were hauled to .Jackson by ox or horse
teams, it taking a week or more to make
the trip. The freighting teams would ar-
rive at their destination, looking like a
occui>vlng the office until Septcml)cr 1. 1885.
when August Peterson, of Albert lea. took the
office. Me held it nnlil after the remiival from
Worlhinglon. C. V. Shepherd succeeded fai>-
lain Griiiiiger as register In June. lSSt>. and
held the position whil.' the office was located
in Wi>rlhington. The land office was closed
Februarv 28. 18SB. there having been a con-
solidation among the .iffices in Minnesota. Thosi-
al Benson. Worthlngton and Redwood halls
were discontinued and the jiapers turned over
to the office at Tnicy. The Tracy office was
then moved to Marshall. The land office was
under democnitic management from 18S4 to
1861- the republicans were In charge from ISfil
to 1885 Then each )iarty had one official in
the office until 1SS6. when .Mr. Shepherd look
office; thereafter it wa.s democratic.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
223
circus procession. .Moses A. Strong, in a
;5peech made at a .Masonic banquet in
Jackson in January, 1S.S4. told of "Mr.
Kimball's business :
People wondered wliere lie sold so many
goods, but to those who knew him it was no
wonder. A settler from Graham or Heron
lake, or somewhere away up north or west,
would hitch up a yoke of steers to an old
wagon, pile in a lot of fur, and start for
.Tackson. Wliere he came in sight of town over
the hill Mr. Kimball would see him and com-
mence striking up a trade, and the first thing
you knew he would have the wagon loaded
with hardware, a stove, plow. cofTee mill, jack
knives, etc., take all the money he had and
notes for the balance. He would embrace his
customer heartily, shake his hand warmly, ask
liim to come again, send his love to all the
neighbors, and bid him adieu.
When the first number of the Jackson
Republic was issued on February 2G, 1870,
the following local business and profes-
sional firms were represented by advertise-
ments :
]\r. A. Strong & Co., drug store.
Hunter Brothers, general store.
W. S. Kimball, hardware.
H. S. Bailey, general store.
J. W. Cowing & Co., general store.
Cluinilierlin & Avery, Jackson Republic.
J. W. ]\Iyers, general store.
J. \V. Seager, attorney.
G. K. Tiffany, attorney.
C. P. ^lorrill, doctor.
John H. Grant, notary public.
James E. Palmer, surveyor.
G. C. Chamberlin, notary public.
Charles Frisbie, cabinet maker.
Joseph Thomas, Jackson House.
William C. Jackson, livery stable.
I. A. Moreaux, saloon.
In addition to this list there were in the
little village a feed store, two blacksmith
shops, a second eating house, a shoe shop,
a meat market, a saw mill, the United
States land office, a school house and a
churcli. Several mail and stage routes
were operated to the town, as follows:
The through line from Blue Earth City
to Yankton, the line from Winnebago City,
another from iladelia, connecting with
one from Sioux City and forming a
through route from Mankato to the Union
Paeifie railroad.
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
A
i1iW4
JACKSON
SCENES
CHAPTER XVII.
JACKSON— 1870-1910.
DUEING tlie first six years of its
liistory Jackson was the only
town in Jacl^son county. Dwt-
ing tiiis time it was also without a rival
in many neighboring counties. Thousands
of settlers were pouring into the country
and locating upon the government lands.
Because of this extensive settlement, be-
cause of the fact that it was the only town
within many long miles in all directions,
and because of the progressive spirit of
the founders and first business men
(nearly all of whom were American born),
Jackson developed into a place of impor-
tance. During tlie years 18G5 to 1869
its growth had been slow, but beginning
with 1870 it took a start, and its growth
continued until tlie beginning of tlie ter-
ribble grassliopper scourge.
The year 1870 was a lively one in all
lines of business. Several new Ijusiness
houses were started and many new build-
ings were* erected. The improvements for
the year footed up to $17,()r)0, itemized as
follows :
J. A. Myers, store .$ 800
Dr. C. P. Morrill, residence 750
Miss T. M. Rice, residence 4.50
Ilnnter Brotliers, improvements 200
E. P. Freeman, improvements 100
W. S. Kimball, store 1,500
J. W. Cowing & Co., improvements 200
Ashley & Co., liotel 3.500
Ashlev & Co., stable 200
H. S." Bailey, store 1.700
I. A. Moreaiix, improvements 350
Methodist church, parsonage 700
S. M. Clark, improvements 1.50
Chamberlin & Avery, improvements.... 150
Dr. K. K. Foster, hotel and improve-
ments 2,200
D. Cardwel!, improvi^nients on saw mill 1,500
J. H. Grant, improvements 300
Griggs & Chubb, steam mill 1,.500
St. Paul & Sioux City Ry. Co., otTice.. 150
I. <;. Walden, imi)rovements 50
D. Kirkpatriek, residence 200
Freeman & Wakefield, improvements.. 250
Nathaniel Frost, improvements 100
P. Brown, residence and stable 2.50
Welch Ashley, improvements .50
R. K. Craigue, residence 2.50
Milton Mason, stable 100
Total $17,650
Business was better in 1871 than it
had been the year before, and several new
enterprises were put under way. We gain
an idea of the size of the little town that
year from the writing of a resident, who
declared tliat in June the village con-
tained a total of about fifty buildings, in-
cluding residences, shops and public build-
ings.
With tlie building of the St. Paul and
Sioux Cily railroad in the fall of 1871 and
the founding of the towns of Windom,
Heron Lake and Worthington, the im-
mense trade territory of Jackson was
greatly reduced. This was offset, how-
ever, by the rapid settlement and develop-
ment of the immediate surrounding coun-
try, and Jackson continued to advance
225
226
lll> Tdin' (»l' .IA( KS()\ CulN'rv
(luiiii,ir till' .vi'iir 1.S7-J. K'cal ost;itp sales
had never before been so lively, l^'mtv or
fiftv residence and biisines-s lots weru sold
diirinfj the siiinnier. The building im-
provements for llie yeai- amounted to over
$5J3,(1(I0. many of tiie struetures erected
l)ein<i superior to those of former j-ears.
'i'lie impro\eiiients of 18~3 were as fol-
lows :
.Jackson (.'oiinty, luiirt liiiiise $ r),4()0
\V. S. Kimball, ri'sidpnce S.Odd
s.noi)
1 .sou
I .r>no
850
800
.1. W. C'Dwiii};. store and liall...
Simon Avery, resiilciui'
I. A. Moieaiix, hilliiir.l ImII
Dr. K. I,, lirownell, residenie and stable
V. M. Sniitli, residence and ffranary....
S. M. flark. blacksmith shop ' .'iOO
noo
4.->0
400
.•?.-)0
■Air,
,300
.300
300
965
.1. !•'. Ashley, residence.
."scliool Dist. \o. 2. furniture
.\. H. Tompkins, residence
•I. II. (irant. improvements
-Mexandcr Kiddi's. wareliousc and stable
1 1. Anderson, imjiroveraents
(.'lark .Marshall, residence
Simon Avery, barn
Other ilcins
'I'olal $2^,140
So far the history of Jackson had been
one of prou'res.s. Kacl. year, from the date
of founding, there had been additions to
the po])ulation and to business enterprises.
Befrinninj; with ]S7:i came a eomjilete re-
versal of conditions. .From that time un-
til 187S there was iiol oiil\ a eessatioii
of projjrcss, there was retrogression. This
chanfie was brought about wholly by the
terrible conditions caused by the ravages
of the grassho])pers. .V town depending
solely upon an agricultural country for
its su])port is left in ]n'elty bad eircmn-
stances when ibe enuntry has had a siu'-
ce.ssion ol' nearly tot.tl cro]i failui-es, and
.lackson was no e.\cc])tion In (be rule. 'I'lu
country was cdose to the starvation point,
and .lackson soon came to the same condi-
tion. Business men exteiuled credit until
they lost tlieir own; several failed ami
moved away. The depression continued
several years, and Jackson received a set-
back which it took years to overcome.
However. Jackson sutlered less severely
than many of tin. neighboring towns. It
was the center of an older settled country
than weie jnost of the town? of .southwest-
em Minnesota, and many of the farmers
had lived in the country long enough to
make some headway toward financial in-
dependence. The other towns had been
founded as a result of the immigration of
IS'".', and not one crop had been harvested
b(liire the devastation. Therefore Jack-
son withstood the awful calamity better
than those towns less fortunately situated.
.\s the story of the grai^^hopper times has
been told in previous chapters, I shall not
eiitiT into its details in this history of
Jackson.
.Mlhough the bard times liad not dis-
apjieared. in l.STS came a revival of busi-
ness in Jackson. This was caused by the
building of the Southern .Minnesota rail-
i"ad (now the Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
I'aul). which reached the county -seat No-
vendier ",.';. It was a time of rejoicing.
-Ml fall times were lively in the little vil-
lage, due to definite knowledge that the
road was coming. The arrival of the iron
horse caused the .Iacl<son Hepublic (No-
\ember -.iO, is:s) to e.xult as follows:
.\fter twelve Ion',' years of waitinj; .Jackson
has a ri};ht to exult over the auspiiions opcn-
inj; of so excellent a line of road. Sitnated on
one of the grandest lhoro\ij;hfares in the west,
surrounded by as line a country as was over
inhabited by men. environed by its {jrand old
blutt's. in easy reach of a succession of l)c-
witching lakes, containing a population noted
for in<lustry. inlclliiience. thrift and responsi-
bility, it is sure to march olV in rapid strides
to prosperity. In adversity, even, we have
lii'cn reasonably prosperous, and now. with the
liri;.'hles! outlook, let everyone rcjoii'c that
l;is lines have fallen here and put forth re-
ncwiil elVorts to nnike onr town surpass in
every fealiui' that jjoes to make U)> a lively,
moral, enterprising, cooperating, happy, benev-
olent, peaceful and industrious community.
Owing to the topographical features of
the town's location, difficulty was encoun-
tered in getting the road built into the
town, and the depot was located nearly
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
227
a mile from the Ijusiness center. It was
later movetl still fartlier away. The rail-
road e.xtended from Jackson in 18T9.
The coming of the road proved a great
like-awakening agency. Before, the town
had been scattered over a large area, with
several vacant lots intervening between
the business houses and residences.
Many of these vacant places now be-
came iilled with new buildings. The sound
of the saw and hammer was heard all day
long: the streets were thronged witb new
arrivals. During the five months from
September 1, 1878, to February 1, 1879,
the following new buildings were erected:
Sargent & Collins, store building; Lars
Nelson, saloon building: Vandaworker &
Seip, blacksmith shop ; Brewster Bros.,
store building; F. T. Brayton, livery barn :
C. L. Colman, lundier office, sheds and
barn ; John Paul, lumber office and sheds ;
A. N. Tompkins, John Paulson, F. A.
Chittenden, George C. Chamberlin, E.
Owens, Jesse Wood, W. J. Case, Mr. Moe,
Welch Ashley and H. White, residences ;
Thoma.s O'Neill, boarding house; M. H.
Smith, harness shop; Dr. Tidball, office
building; E. A. Hatch, ice house; railroad
company, engine Louse ; Bonner & Hyde
and Cargil & Van, warehouses.
During the same .''eason the following
new business enterprises were started in
Jackson : JI. H. Smith, harness shop ;
Vandaworker <!t Scip, blacksmith shop;-
Clark & Hartness, hardware store; Sar-
gent & Collins, clothing store ; Olson Bros.,
general store ; Ole Eognas, furniture store ;
Brewster Brothers, grocery store ; J. A.
Rhodes, photograph gallery ; Thomas
O'Neill, boarding house ; W. E. Powers &
Co., saloon ; Ira Walden, butcher shop ; E.
A. Hatch, saloon ; A. Haskins, barber shop :
A. N. & I. D. Converse, real estate and
insurance office; W. N. Brayton, meat
market; 0. A. Sathe, wheelwriglit's shop;
F. T. Brayton, livery barn; John K.
Brown, bank ; C. L. Colman and John
Paul, lumber yards; M. B. Odell, jewelry
store; O. \j. Patch, paint sho]) ; F. Quon-
tin, F. il. Smith, F. A. Chittenden, R.
Hanson, carpenter shops.
So great had been the increase in popu-
lation that at the beginning of the year
1879 steps were taken to bring about the in-
corporation of tlio village. On January
(I a mass meeting was held at the court
house to take the preliminary steps. The
meeting was ])resided over by Major H. S.
Bailey, and George C. Chamberlin was the
secretary. When tiie question was discus-
sed, it was found that there was consider-
able oppo.'^ition to taking the important
step at that time. It appeared, however,
Ihat a majority was in favor of beginning
munici]ial government. A committee,
composed to T. .1. Knox, J. W.
Cowing, Alexander Fiddes, P. Brown and
Joseph Thomas, was selected to draft a
charter. A charter was drawn up and re-
))orted to another meeting hchl January
11.
The matter was placed before the legis-
lature, and on March 6, 1879, the Min-
nesota law making body enacted into law
a bill providing for the incorporation of
Jackson, with the boundaries it now has.
The act provided that before it should
become operative it must be ratified by
a vote of the people residing within the
proposed limits of the village. For the
jnirpose of calling and presiding over such
election the act named J. W. Hunter, B.
W. Ashley, M. A. Strong, Alexander Fid-
des and J. W. Cowing as commissioners.
There the matter was allowed to rest for
two years, and the village of Jackson
was governed by the board of county com-
missioners and the Des Moines township
board of supervisors until 1881. Why im-
mediate action was not taken is lucidly
explained by the Jackson Republic of
March 20, 1880, as follows :
228
HISTORY OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
Why siioli meeting wns not called
is all on acconnt of llic oondition upon wliidi
our town bonds were voted for the IVs Moines
river liridye and in conscqnenie of a derision
of the supreme emirt. lioliliu}; thai wlien towns
I townships I liad voted bonds and sulise(|uent-
!y a ninni(i|ial iiu'orporation was created with-
in such town limits, the townsliip outside of
the incorporation was compelled to pay the
full amount of the bonds so voted. Now, the
village lias no desire to shirk the obligation
of its portion of the bonds voted and we nnike
this public explanation.
Tlio building activity pontinucfl ciur-
iiiff 1879. From early spring until late in
llic tall carpcntcr.s were lui.sily engaged
in erecting the new struetiire.s. Unlike
tlie cliea|) iitnicture.? .soinetiines ])ut iij)
ill iiiiislirooni towns I'nlldwing the cniniiig
(if the railroad, niaiiy siih.stantiiil edifices,
costing several thousand dollars, were add-
ed to the village. The iinprcivi'mciits I'nr
the year aniouiiled to $.'!7,l)."iO, itemized
as follows :
John K. Hrown. brick IkuiU tiuililing . i? 4,0111)
.1. W. Cowing, house .l.fi.'iO
A. C. Whitman & Co.. brick store build-
ing ,3.000
Southern Minnesota Railway Co., depot 2.r)00
Des Moines river bridge 2.200
CoUis i Laniont, addition to Ashley
house 1 .SOO
E. Owens, business block 1.400
Mrs. if. B. Bowditch. house 1.000
:^r. A. Strong, addition 1.000
Olson Bros., store building 1.000
Ole Tiognas, store b\iilding SOO
M. 11. Smith, harness shop SOO
T. .1. Knox, house 72."i
(). K. Olson, house 700
C. A. CanipbiOl. house TOO
U. S. liiiilcv. improvements at brick
yard .....' TOO
.1. li. Tjindsay. hotise 000
Jesse Wood, house fiOO
Tlionnis O'Neill, improvements on hotel HTH
Alexander l'"iddes. postoffice building. . .WO
.1. W. Hunter. im])rovements grist mill, .WO
O. A. Sathe. bouse .lOO
U. W. Ashley, improvements and stahh' ")00
Honner & Hyde, warehouse "lOO
Cargill & Van, warehoiise .WO
Fred Qnentin. house tiOO
(J. fJnnderson. house 400
C. Sei)!. house 400
Brewster Uros.. improvements on store. 400
Mrs. C. Haldwin. house 32.">
K. A. Hatch, barn 300
P. Brown, house .300
Peter Kvenson. house 2.iO
Rev. J. K. .\lexaiidcr. parsonage MOO
W. S. Kimball, house .300
1. D. Converse, house. 275
(ieorge C. Chaniberlin, imjirovements. . 2.50
J. !•". Ashley, house 250
I'", 'r. Hrayton. improvements 200
-Mrs. K. h! Wilson. rcsta\uant 200
(uorge 1). Stone, addition 200
Ashley Bros., livery barn 200
Charles Cutting, house 150
A. \. Tompkins, improvements 150
F. A. Chittenden, improvements 150
Dr. E. P. Gould, addition 125
Mrs. Rost, addition 125
John Paulson, improvements 125
Nathaniel Frost, barn 125
Moore & Kummcr, improvements 110
Other items 1,190
Total .. $.37,650
According to the federal census of 1880
— the first in which the population of
.lackson was enunterated separately from
tlie tnwnslii]) — the town was found to have
:i pnpidaticin of 501, making it rank
I'liurtli anintig the towns of soutlnve.stern
M iiiiicsdta.'
Tile matter of incorporation again bo-
raiue a live issue during the winter of
l,S8fl-Sl. A mass meeting was held on
the last day of the year ISSO. of which
M. .\. Strong was chairman and J. W.
i I lintel- secretary. Tiiere was luore un-
animity of opinion than there had been
two years before, and it was the sen.se
of the meeting that immediate steps shotild
lie taken to incorporate, freorge C. Cham-
berliii. T. J. Knox and J. T. Bowditch
were ap|viinted a committee to draft a
rliarter, and .T. W. ITunter. .7. \V. Cowing.
II. S. r.ailev. W. S. Kimball, V>. \V. Asli-
lc\, .Icix'pli Thomas and 11. II. Hughes, a
<oiiimitlee to decide on the boundaries.
.\ charter was prepared, and, in order
to obtain the views of the citizens an in-
formal election was held at the postoffice
on .lanuary 12, at which time 55 votes
were registered in favor of incorporation
Milder the charter, while ten voted against
it. The charter was introduced as an act
in the legislature. It passed both bouses,
'Population of other towns in the vicinity was
:is follows: Windom. 443; Fairmont. 541; St.
.Irim.s. I.'i4: Mridclia. 4.<;»; Heron I-ake. 22fi;
Worthlngton, 636; Luvcrne. 697; Pipestone. 222.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
•229
and then, in some unaccountable mau-
8q; JO aoiyo aqj uioaj paaeaddBsip 'ida
secretary of state and was never seen
again. It is pos.-^ible that it was burned in
the capitnl fire, which occurred about that_
time.
Tlie disappearance of the bill put mat-
ters back to where tiiey liad been before
the legislature took action, but the people
of Jackson were determined to incorpor-
ate as a municipality and took other meas-
ures. Messrs. Hunter, Strong, Fiddes and
Cowing, of the commissioners named in
The act of 18T9. posted notices for an elec-
tion to be held April 12, 18.81, to decide
the question as to wliether or not Jackson
sl'.uuhl be incorjiorated under the provis-
ions of the general hiw pi-nvided fur in-
corporating villages. There was no elec-
tioneering either for or against the qucvs-
tion, and of the 80 vot&s cast, 08 were in
favor and 13 against incorporating.
The first village election was held on
April 19, when a seL of village officers
was chosen. Those who were chosen at
this initial election and at each succeed-
ing election were as follows:
1881=— President. J. W. Cowing; trustees, J.
W. Hunter, Ole E. Olson, C. A. Campbell; re-
coixler, M. A. Strong; treasurer, John K.
Brown; justice. H. S. Bailey; constable, Ira G.
Walclen.
1882— President, M. A. Strong; trustees, G.
C. Cliamberlin, Paul H. Berge. J. W. Hunter;
recorder. C. L. Campbell; treasurer, .John Paul-
son; justice, M. A. Strong; constable, R. P.
Matteson.
1883'— President. M. A. Strong; trustees, J.
^Eighty votes were polled at the first election.
There were contests lor only two offices: C.
A. Campbell defeated M. A. Strong for trustee
by a vote of 42 to 35: M. A. Strong defeated A.
C". Whitman for recorder by a vote of 44 to 35.
"Before the incorporation of the village the
matter of licensing saloons had been in the
hands of the county commissioners. Some
years they had granted license tor the opera-
tion of saloons in Jackson; some years they
had refused license. After incorporating, up to
18S3. the matter had been left in the hands of
the village council, which had granted license
during ISSl and 1SS2. In 1S.S3 the question was
submitted to the voters for the first time.
Thereafter up to the present time, it has been
voted on nearly every year. The following
shows the results of these elections, a vote not
having been taken in the years not given, but
license having been granted during those years:
\V. Cowing, Ale.xander Fiddes, .Jolui Paulson;*
recorder, C. A. Cani|)l)ell; treasurer, .John K.
lirown.''
1884 — President, Ale.icander Fiddes; trustees,
A. C. Wliitman. tile Kognas, C. A. Campbell;
recorder. K. P. Skinner; treasurer, .John Fid-
des; justices, H. W. Peel:, J. A. Goodrich; con-
stable, F. Quentin.
188.5— President. .J. W. Hunter; trustees, H.
H. Huglies, A. C. Wliitman.''' S. Swenson; re-
corder. Ole Rognas; treasurer. .Jolin I'iddes;
justice, H. S. Bailey.
1880— President, "i'aul H. Berge; trustees, S.
Swenson, !•'. Quentin, H. H. Hughes; recorder,
Burt W. Day;' treasurer, J. W. Hunter; jus-
tice, H. W. Peck; constable, M. L. Ashley.
1887 — President, Ale.xander Fiddes; trustees,
Ole E. Olson, J. W. Cowing, George C. Cham-
berlin;' recorder, E. J. Orr; treasurer, J. W.
Hunter; justice, -J. A. Goodrich; constable, R.
.J. Henderson.
1888 — President, Alexander Fiddes; trustees,
H. H. Berge, .Jr., A. H. Strong, G. A. Albertus;
recorder, !•'. Quentin; treasurer. J. W. Hunter;
justice, H. W. Peck; constable, Henry Olson.
1889 — President, Alexander Fiddes; trustees,
W. A. Conrad, H. H. Berge, G. A. Albertus; re-
corder, E. .J. Orr; treasurer, .J. W. Hunter; jus-
tices, Josepli Bushnell, J. A. Goodrich; con-
.stables, R. J. Henderson, Rasmus Hanson.
1890 — President, J. W. Cowing; trustees, H.
G. Anderson, B. W. Asldey, George R. Moore;
recorder. M. B. Hutchinson; treasurer, .J. W.
Hunter; assessor, W. R. Ellsworth; justice, A.
C. Serum.
1891 — President, Alexander Fiddes; trustees,
H. (i. Anderson, J. K. lirown, Henry Hoovel;
recorder, II. B. Hutcliinson; treasurer, .J. W.
Hunter; assessor, W. R. Ellsworth; justices, J.
A. fioodrieh, V. B. Crane; constables, R. Han-
son, I. S. Barrett.
1892— President, M. B. Hutchinson; trustees,
A. E. Olson, H. H. Berge, W. R. Ellsworth;
recorder, Henrik Strom; treasurer, J. Iv.
Brown.
1883- For, 46; against, 64.
1884— For, 65; against. 67.
1885 — For, 59: against, 53.
1886— For. 86; against. 48.
1887- For, 62; against, 56.
1888 — License by 4 majority.
1889 — License by 5 majority.
1890 — For. 73; against. 110.
1891- For. 81; against. 94.
1892 — License by big majority.
1894- For, 164; against. 64.
1896- For, 200; against. 115.
1897— For. 132; against, 103.
1899— For. 208; against, 87.
1901 — For, 242; against. 63.
1902- For. 202; against. 104.
1903— For. 243; against. 94.
1909— For, 192; against. 171.
"Resigned June 5. 1883. No successor selected.
'Did not qualify. John Fiddes appointed
June. 1883.
"Removed from county. C. B. Tuttle appoint-
ed December 15, 1885.
•Resigned January 10. 18S7. and E. J. Orr
appointed.
'Resigned June 7. 1887. and O. A. Sathe ap-
pointed.
230
HISTOHY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1893— President. \V. V. rorliiiaiiii: tnistfos, 1!M)5— Presi.l.'iit. (.'. I,. Miiki-v: tnihiU-cs, 11.
H. (i. Anderson. \V. II. .larvis, t». A. Siitho; U. i;illes|>ii-. C. A. AiUi-n.'= F.' H. KaUer;' re-
recorder, lleurik .'^triini: treasnrer, .1. \V. Ilnn- cordi-r. .lolin liiirnliani: treasurer, .1. K. Hrown-
ter; a.ssessor, C. 11. Sandon. assessor, K. A. Cnildke: justiee. .Iiisepli .Sniy-
18'J4 — President, li. (i. Anderson; trustees, kal; eonstalde. Hen -Matteson.
U. \V. Priest, (;eor};e liurnliam. \V. H. Sketeh; llMIt; President. C. L. .Miekey : trustees, H.
reeorder, Alexander l-iddes; treasurer, .). K. H. (;ill<'s|iic, K. H. Kalier. A. S. Kinj;; recorder,
Hrown; assessor. Neils Ludviijsen; justice. .1. .lohn Hurnliani: treasurer..!. K. Itrown: asses-
J. Walhicc; constal>li'. A. .1. Patt<Tson. sor. I!. .A. tiruldke: justices. W. P. Kinj;, Jo-
1K!I.") I'resident, W. H. Sketch; trustees. (Hi •-epli Sniykal.
ver Hrown. II. H. lier^'C, .Ir., K. \V. Lindslc\ ; l!l(i; President, K. T. Sinitli; trustees, .lolin
recorder, Alexander Kiddes; treasurer, J. K. .\lc.\lartin, Clarence (ireenwood, Ceorge Kel-
Hrown: assessor, A. H. Strong; justices, James sey; reeorder, .John Hnrnham;" treasurer, W.
Burnliani, .J. A. Coodrich: constables. J. \V. D. Hunter; assessor, .lohn Haldwin:" justice,
iluir, (lie Anilcrson. .Iose|)h Sniykal; constables, .M. li. Du I'rank
1891)— President. \V. B. Sketeh; trustees, Oli- tiillespie.
ver Brown, K. W. Lindsley, 11. 11. Herge. .Ii.; liMlH President. II. M. Burnliam; trustees,
recorder. Alexander Fiddes; treasurer, .J. K. lolin .\lc.\lartin. C. W. (.reenwood. Frank Phil-
Brown; assessor, C. H. Sandon. Ii|is; rcccmler. .J. (i. Robertson; treasurer, W.
1897— President, John L. Uann; trustees, U. Hunter; justice, \V. P. King; asses,sor, Wil-
Frank Phillips. .lames Lowe. A. il. Strong; re- liam \'. King.
corder. F. B. Faber; treasurer, .1. K. Brown; 19119- President, Chris Ludvig.scn: trustees,
assessor, C. il. Sandon: justices, .1. A. (lood- John Mc.Martin, C. W. (ireenwood, \V. H. An-
rich, JIark D. Ashley; (onstables, .1. \V. .\Iuir. nis; recorder, J. (i. Kobertson; treasurer, W. I).
.Joseph Trca. Hunter; assessor, J. \'. Beyer; ju.stiee, F. E.
1898 President. John L. Dann; trustees. A. Bailey; constables, II. B. Dunn, O. C. I^ee.
H. Strong, .lames Lowe. Charles \Vasld)urn: re- n,, i i -n
corder, F. B. Faber; treasurer. .1. K. Brown. ' '"" .'ncksou Vllla<;e govemnient was
1899 -President. .lohn L. Uann; trustees. (!. liojillll nl nine o'c'loi'k in till' morililli; of
11. Sawyer, F. F. Harlow. .Jolin X'oda; recorder, li--; i.,,. 4,,,.;i o.i looi i ii -i
F. B. Faber: treasurer. J. K. Brown; assessor! *"''">• ^'nl i^, IShl, when the council
William V. King: justices. J. A. (Joodrich. met for the first tiiuo. The first o(ricial
Mark I). Ashley;" constables, Benjamin llarri- „_f „<■*„_ +.,|.:„ , »i, , „.,ti., t it-
son. J. W. Sluir. takinjj tlie oatiis of otlue, wa.s
1900— President. M. B. Hutchinson; trustees, to appdilU 1". T. Ilnntiin. Street COinniis-
r,: M!r["';r\''nV'7'"' '''•''• r'r'-,r'"''*' ^'""<'>-- -^ c-.tninituv was appointed to
er, Mark I). Ashley; treasurer. .1. 1\. Brown: ''
a.ssessor. William V. King: <(instalih's. .loseph notify the saloon keepers that tlicv must
^T^i'^'lV '"r^V I , M V I . . .- '■'■'''*'' sellinjj intoxicating liquors until li-
liHll — President, .lohn M. \ cnhi ; trustees. 1'. p- i
F. Harlow," H. II. Bcrge, Chris Ludvigsen; cen.sed hy the vilhl-^e council. At a SCC-
recorder, Mark »• A-^l<le.v; treasurer, J. K. nml meet in- of tiie council, held on the
Hrown; assessor, William \. King: justices. .1. .
A. (Joodrich, C. J. Wethe: constable. Ben Mat- cvenincr of the Same day, ordinance Xo. 1,
^'^umo T. I , A^- 1) fi . . . . Ti fi-^ing liquor licenses at $200 ]K>r annum,
1902— Presidi'iil . \\ . H. Skctih: trustees, H. ' '
H. Berge. II. .M, Ihiniham. F. II. Phillips;" "'1*^ passed.
recorder. W. II. Miller: treasurer. J. K. Brown; The first village linaiuial Statement
assessor, William \. King: constable. M. L. .
Frost. shows the receipts and expenditures from
ino.s-Presidcnt. K. K. stui.bs; trustees. M. the date of organization, April 22, 18«1,
L. Frost. II. .\I, Burnliam. John Peterson. Jr.; ., , , , , ,, , • , „
recorder. W . II. Miller: treasurer. J. K. Brown: ''^ Deceniiier .iO. l.SSl, and is as follows:
assessor. William V. King; justices, J. A. KKCEIPTS.
fJoodricli. C. .1. Wethe; constables, Ben Matte- Fcrrv fees $242.90
son, V. W. Avery. Sale" of boat '.3o!oO
1904 — President. II. M. Burnhani; trustees. Liquor licen.se 243.2,5
H. B. Cillespie. .lohn Peterson. .Ir.. M. L. Frost ; Peddler licen.se 0.00
recorder. W. II. .Miller; treasurer, J. K. Hrown; Butcher license 20.00
assessor. \\'illi;im \'. King: justici', W, P. King, Dog license 30,00
.Auctioneer license 2.00
•Resigned March H. liiOO. to accept olTice of
recorder. C. J. Wethe appointed March 27.
1900.
'"Resigned, and on May 31. 1901. F, II, Phil-
lips a|>polnted.
"Resigned June 20. 1902. and .Andrew Nelson
appointed June 2t, 1902. Mr. Nelson resigned
January 5. 19n3. and Jf)hn Peterson. Jr.. was
appointed.
$589.1. 5
"Died In June. 1905. and on June 6 A. S. King
appointed.
'■'RcslKned and Gordon Robertson appointed
September 3. 190".
"Resigned in April. 1907. and R. A. Gruhike
appointed.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
231
EXPENDITURES.
Books .iml bliiiiks $ 3.51
Kerry boat 50. (X)
liunnini! ferry boat 110.50
lielmikliiis bridge 250.00
Saving old bridge .'i . 50
Planks for bridges 47 110
Lumber and nails for crossings 71 30
Work on streets and crossings 44. 50
Attorney's fees 5 . 00
Doctor's fees 5.00
Recording 7.50
Cash overpaid by Heiiter 12.00
$610.59
There was not such great activity in
I)uik1ing operations during 1881 as there
liarl been for a few years preceding, and
the town .settled down to a normal basis,
(iood times came upon the country, and
Jackson developed into an excellent trad-
ing point in consequence. An indication
of the town's business is shown by a state-
ment of tlic impoiti and exports by rail.
During the year 1881 there were imported
7^893,912 pounds of freight. This in-
cluded 42 cars of coal and 169 cars of
lumber. The exports reached a total of
3.:)02,TT4 pounds, including 40 cars of
wlieat, 32 of oats, 8 of barley, 5 of flax,
31 of iiogs, 2T of cattle and 3 of butter.
The following table shows the exports by
pounds :
Wheat 842,830
Barlev 171.340
Oats ■ 072.040
( Jrass seed 2,800
Kla.v seed 106,370
Flour 11,350
Egg.s 13,260
Butter 61,2.37
Tallow 1,330
Wool 10,045
Hides 32,226
Horses 3,.500
Cattle .546,000
Hogs 632.000
Sheep 32,000
Other items 119,844
Total 3,302,774
Over $17,01)0 wortli of l)uilding im-
provements were made in 1882, as follows:
.John K. Brown, five cottages $ 4,500
.J. Gould, millinery store 1,000
S. Swenson, residence 1,000
Ole Anderson, residence 1,000
.lackson mill, addition.' 700
Ely & Brooks, improvements on mill... 2,000
Berge Bros., store 1,800
U. W. Stone, residence 1,000
K. >I. Ward, residence 900
Krick Olson, cottage 225
K. .1. Henderson, blacksmith shop 200
F. W. Lindsley, barn 200
W. 1'". Turner', barn 500
Scliool District, improvements 250
I!. P. ilatteson. addition 200
B. W. .\shley, improvements 450
O'Connell & Joyce, saloon 500
W. A. Pepper, residence 300
0. A. Sathe. addition 150
Levi Davis, improvements 60
M. S. Clough, residence 400
Total .$17,535
A business and prolessional directory of
Jackson, jirepared in tin- sju'ing of 1884.
was as follows:
KEXERAL MERCHANDISE.
.J. W. Cowing.
(). E. Olson.
Berge Brothers.
.1. W. Hunter.
H. W. Peck.
GROCERIES.
A. C. Whitman.
A. E. Olson.
William Smith.
DRUG STORES.
A. C. Whitman.
,T. W. Cowing.
Berge Brothers.
HARDWARE.
Alexander Fiddes.
E. P. Skinner.
BLACTCSMITH SHOPS.
Swenson & Sathe.
R. .J. Henderson.
.John Jiuigbauer.
HOTELS.
Ashley House, William Lamont.
American House. .Jacob Hoesli.
LUMBER YARDS.
Colman Lumber Company, H. H. Hughes,
Agent.
Paul Lumber Company, C. A. Campbell,
Agent.
IMPLEMENT DEALERS.
F. W. Lindsley.
Ale.xander Fiddes.
E. P. Skinner.
A. H. Strong.
REAL ESTATE DEALERS.
George R. Moore.
Fredericksen & Company.
W. T. Hansen.
Horton. Gillerup & Horton.
Willis Drummond.
ATTORNEYS.
T. J. Knox.
D. M. DeVore.
232
IIISTOIiY dl' .IA( KSON ('(»! NTY,
MISCKLLANEOUS.
Joliii K. Uriiwii, Hank of Jackson.
K. I', (ioiiki, iilivsiiian.
Hrooks & Kalv, lloiiiiiif,' mill.
Koiitliil t'leaiMoiy (-'iiiiipaii_v, crcainory.
-Miss K. II. Gould, niillinciy.
Olo Ixogiias, fiiiiiitiiie.
Swenson & Sallie, wa{;oii fai'tory.
G. \\'. Arcntsoti, shoo .shop.
Oeoige A. Stark, coo|i('r shoj).
Levi Davis, tailor shop.
I. (1. Waldeii, iiuNU iiiaiki't.
<:. .\. Alhcrtiis. harness shop.
II. W'hiti'. dray line.
!•'. 1.. l!raylon, livery anil Ims linr.
I. Kvcnson. paint shop.
Krcd (^uciilin. carpenter.
14\irt W. Day, newspaper.
Henry Iloesli, barher shop.
During tlie iiiiddli! and later eighties
Jaek.son (tdiitimied to grow slowly, and
prosperous times were enjoyed. Tiie iiii-
proveiiieiits for tile year IS.St amounted to
a little over $l.").l)00. The jjopidation in
1885 was 608.
ivirly in ISS.S Jaekson beeame a divis-
ion point of the t'hieago, Jlilwaukee &
St. Paul railroad, and thereby added lo
its impoiiaiire. This event was brought
about largely through the elVorls of ,Iaek-
soii citizens, j)artictilarly. .1. K. Brown,
Alexander Fiddes, V. II. Berge, T. J.
Knox and .7. W. Cowing. Over $100,000
worth of rnilroail buildings were ereeted,
including an eight-stall round hmise. 'J'he
securing of the divi.sion point was not
accomplished without a concession on the
part of the village. This was the permis-
sion given the railway company to move
the passenger and freight depots from the
original location to a point farther from
the business part of town.
By the term? of an agreement nuide in
187!), incorporated in a legislative act, the
railroad ciimpnny had agreed to forever
maintain its de])ot on the spur track wliore
it had been originally located, but when
the proposition of establishing a division
|>oint at .lackson arose, the company de-
nuinded the right to move the depot to
the main line. A mass meeting of the citi-
zens of .lackson decided to permit this,
and on .\iigust «. iN.s;. the village coun-
cil jiassed an ordinance granting the de-
itiand of the railroad company, provided
the town be made division headquarters
and an eight-stall round house built and
maintained. 'J'he ae.xt spring the Minne-
sota legislature legalized the municipal act,
and the depot was moved.
Among the improvements of the early
nineties wa.s the water works system,
which was put in during 1892. The year
before the legislature had authorized the
village to vote on the question of issuing
l)onds for the purpose, and at the election
on Xovend)er ;i, 1891, by a vote of 81 to
19, the electors authorized the council to
issue $10,000 bonds. The bonds were .sold
in the fall of 1S9'..' at a premium of $:?.")9,
and the system was installed.
Prosperous limes ciiiue upon the village
in 1892. and great strides forward were
made. More building improvements were
made that year than in the five years pre-
ceding and were of a total value of $9;?,-
17"), A few of the principal items were
as follows: Water works system, $13,000;
.\shley house, $10,000; Harlow house.
$9,000; Boston block, $6,500; P, H,
Berge, residence, $4,000 ; C. L. Colby, resi-
dence, $3,500; G. B. Paddock, residence,
$3,000; Catholic church, $3,000; C. A.
Portmann, residence, $3,200 ; J, V. Ma-
kovicka saloon luiilding $3,100; Presby-
terian parsonage, $1,600; William V.
King, residence, $1.50(); Sakcdik & Co.,
store building. $1,500: I'. 1'. Ifaverberg,
residence, $1,100; Hiiiry llixivel, resi-
dence. $1,300.
In 1893 the improvements amounted to
$71,300, and among the principal items
were the State Bank of Jackson building
at $15,000 and the J. W. Hunter brick
block at $7,000. Tn the summer of 1893
came the memorable panic and the result-
ant hard times period, and the village
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY. 233
was at a standstill for a few years. Busi- sewerage begun. The improvements for
ness was jjaralyzed ; the town was without Ihe year amounted to $103,0G.5., Among
life. The setback proved only temporary, those wlio contributed to this amount
and within a few years, owing to the were:
laising of magnificent crops and the big .Jackson Village, light plant $15,000
TL«e in real estate values. Jackson was ^""'^ ^^''""^^ lO'^f
Oliver Brown 8,000
again on the forward march. Ilieleman Brewing Company 7,000
The town had reached a population of f" Matteson . . " ti.ooo
^ J^ Raymond Bartosch G.OOO
1,3.5G when the census of 1895 was taken. Alexander Fiddes 5^000
Despite the fact that complete recoverv ^^- «■ Rol^f-rtson 4,000
' . ^ - .Joseph Berry 3.500
from the hard times period had not been Berge Brothers 3,000
reached and that times were considered V'V" ^'"l^!" ■■■.• -300
.Jackson village, city sewer 2.000
dull, the record of improvements for 1895 Ross JJvengood 2.000
was flattering. An estimate made by the '^^'■«- Hamlon 2,000
Pilot placed the total at $81,330. This The first steps toward installing the
included $31,000 for two new school electric lighting system were taken on
buildings, $11,000 for the Jackson Queen ilarch 16, 1899, when, at a special elec-
mill, $7,400 for the Livcngood & Co. mill tion, by a vote of 194 to 38, it was de-
aiiil $3,500 for city improvements. Busi- cided to issue $10,000 bonds for the pur-
uess depression and commercial stagnation |iose. The contract for the construction
continued during 1S9G. The improvements of the plant was let September 8, 1899,
for the year were valued at $35,800. By to the Northwestern Electric Light com-
1898 times had become much better. That pany of St. Paul, and to the Ideal En-
year were erected the .\nderson & Lindsley gine company of the same city. The plant
block at a cost of $14,000 and the M. B. was completed within a few nionth.s, and
Hutchinson block at a cost of $11,000. Jackson was lighted by electricity for the
Other improven.ents brought the total to first time in January, 1900.
$58,375. Building operations were not prosecu-
The years 1899 to 1903, inclusive, con- ted so vigorously in 1900. The principal
stituted a most prosperous era in Jackson, buildings put up that year were the M.
as well as in the county and the whole J. Olsen block, $9,000; the H. G. Ander-
nortliwest country. Land values soared son block, $3,000 ; the Oliver Brown block,
and hundreds of new settlers came to $3,000; and several fine residences. I'he
Jackson county. The effect on Jackson population in 1900, according to the fed-
was a healthy growth in all lines of busi- eral census, was l,75fi.
ness. New enterprises came into existence Nineteen hundred one was a good year
and prosperity abounded. The first year in the building line, the expenditures
of this era was the most prosperous one amounting to $84,400. Some of the prin-
in the history of the village and almost cipal items were as follows : Presbyterian
took the nature of a boom. Many brick church, $13,000 ; J. K. Brown, business
blocks were erected and the main street block. $10,000 ; A. C. Seniin, residence
was in a state of confusion all summer as $5,500 ; W. E. Manchester, residence, $5,-
a result of building operations. In addi- 000 ; Lind.sley & Anderson, business block,
tion to other enterprises, a municipal elee- $4,500 ; H. H. Berge, residence, $4,000 ;
trie lighting system was installed, a tele- Y. W. Avery, residence, $3,500; Episcopal
phone system was put in, and a system of church, $3,000; F. B. Faber, residence,
14
234
HISTOJ;\ ol
AC K.SO.N UOINTV.
$3,000; John Muir. residence, $3,000;
John A'acek, shoji and residence, $2,000;
Ross Livengood. mill improvements, $2,-
000: T. T. Thniiip>on. residence, $2,000;
]-"rani< Koli'ran, residence, $2,000.
In 1902 the money expended in Jackson
on new buildincs was $!)r).G00. some of the
larger items being: Jackson county, jail,
$17,750; Jackson flour mill, $15,000; H.
]\I. Burnham & Co., brick block, $12,000;
T. J. Knox, residence, $10,000; Jackson
Telephone compam, $6,000 : H. B. Gilles-
pie, residence, $3,400.
The prosperous times which Jackson
had lieen enjoying for a nundrer of years
tcruiiuaii'd in lOO.'J. and fur a few years
thereafter tlie advancement was slower.
I)ue to an abnormal rainfall, there were
a few years of partial crop failures, and
but little progress was made. The census
of 1905 gave a population of 1776, a gain
of only twenty in five years. This was
a better showing than most towns of
southwestern Minnesota made during
those five years, many showing a loss.
Conditions returned to a normal basis
in 1908, and in thus year of our Lord
191(1 Jackson is again in prosperous cir-
cumstances. Among the events of re-
cent year.s is to be recorded the completion
of the Jackson county court house in 1909
at a cost cif over ^llT.iiOd.
CHAPTER XVIII.
JACKSON'S ENTERPEISES.
THE SCHOOLS.
OXE of the first institutions to be
provided after the founding of a
town is the public school. In
Jackson the school came two years before
the town. The first school conducted with-
in the limits of the village was taught by
iliss Anna Thomas, daughter of Joseph
Thomas, in 1864. The term was a short
one, just long enough to secure the money
of the state appropriation. The students
who attended this initial school were Hal-
vor Halverson, Lewis Halverson, Annie
ilalverson, John Halverson, Joseph Thom-
as, Mary Thomas, Alice Tucker, Weda
Woodard, Mary Woodard, Lucina Wood-
ard and George Palmer.
During 1865 and 1866 quite a number
of families located in the vicinity, and in
the latter year the village of Jackson was
founded. Although the platted town was
on the west side of the river, for some
time the Jackson school was conducted in
district No. 1, on the east side.^ Mrs. B.
H. Johnson taught the school during the
winter of 1866-67 at her home in the old
stockade, south of tlie Thomas home. The
*The county commissioners created district
No. 1, including: several sections in Wisconsin
township and in that part of Des Moines east
of the river, on March 13. 1S66. No 2, including
all of Des Moines west of the river, was created
September 4, 1S66.
pupils attending were Ida Clough, Joe
Clough, Joe Thomas, Johnnie Halverson,
Leonard F. A.shle_y, Halvor Halverson,
Lewis Halverson, George Palmer, Perry
Eddy, Frank Bailey, Wallace Bailey, Eol-
lin Johnson, John Charles Ashley, Lee
Palmer, Mary Earned and Will Dayton.
The next winter William V. King taught
the school at his home on the east side
of the river.
In the fall of 1868 a school house was
built on the west side of the river, near
the bayou at the foot of Third street. It
wa.s built of native lumber and its di-
mensions were 16.xl8 feet, with eight foot
posts.- Major H. S. Bailey provided the
money to build it, and he was later reim-
bursed by the school district. School was
taught in the building during the winter
of 1868-69 and the summer of 1869 by
Miss Mandy Mario, who received a salary
of $1.5 per month. The winter terra was
of three months duration, and there were
enrolled thirty-four pupils — nineteen boys
and fifteen girls; the average daily at-
tendance was twenty-five. There was also
three months school during the summer,
and the total cnroliment was twenty-eight
— nineteen boys .ind nine girls — with an
=This building still stands in the village and
is now used as a chicken house.
235
236
HlSTOiiY OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
averajre daily attendance of twent}'.^ There
wcrr li:! ell ill! run bciwccn tlie ages of
(ivo and twenty-one years in tlie district
at the close of the school year in Scpluni-
bep-, 1869, according to the report of the
clerk, W. S. Kiniball.| The financial state-
ment for the lirst year of the scliool's his-
tory, made hy W. S. Kimball, clerk, Sep-
tember 30, 1869, is an interesting docu-
ment. It is as follows:
.Aiiiount on liaiid September 30,
1868
Received from coiuity treasurer
Received from tax voted l)y dis-
trict
fioneral sinking fund
Amount received from otlicr
sources
$ 00.00
00.00
191.42
54.42
8.05
Total amount received.
,..$2.50.17
'According to a list of property owners in
the district made by the school clorlt Septem-
ber la. lS6ii. there were fifty-two residents lia-
l,le to school district tax. They were as fol-
lows: B. W. .Vshley. Mcnzo Ashley. P. Brown.
H. S. Bailey. C. HaUlwii.. Orin Belknap. A. J.
Borland. Richanl Bowden. S. M. Clark. J. W.
Cowing. G. C. Chamberlin. M. S. Clough. Ed-
ward Davics. B. D. Dayton. Hi-nry K. Kvans.
I. F. Eddv. Nathaniel Frost. S. E. Ford. R. R.
Foster. \V. C. Garratt. Palmer Hill. J. W. Hun-
ter. I.ars Halverson. B. H. Johnson. W. S.
Kimball. Baldwin Kirkpatrick. F. K. Lyman.
Lewis Lvman. Gimubo P. Lee. H. Lyman. J. M.
Miller. .Michael MilUr. J. .\. Myer. Munger &
Hale Andrew Monson. J. R. Palmer. Jaretl
Palmer, C. H. Rcdford. Edward Savage. C. H.
Sandon. Joseph Thomis. H. L. 'IMiomas. A. B.
Tompkins. H. T. Trnmblc. Joseph F,. Thomas.
S. E. Trask. .\ E. Wood. Willard Wiltso. T. H.
White, Isaac Wheeler. B. N. W'oodard. J. C.
Young.
'The names and ages of these were as fol-
lows: RoUa Johnson 10. Joseph Thomas. Jr..
■m. Alonzo Wilsev 9. Edwin Wilsey 11. Elmer
Wllsey G. Lewis Halverson in, Ilalvor Halver-
son 20, .Mva Clough. George Palmer 11. Lee
Palmer S, Harrv Fields 8. John Fieliis 5. Ben
Woodard. I, H, Barnes 18. John ll.alverson 12,
Arthur Halverson .■>, William Smith 15, Perry E.
ICddv 8, Joseph Palmer 17. Frank Bailey 1,^,
Wallace Bailev 12, Nett Wood C. Rollln Trum-
bull 7, R. Trumbull 12, Orin Lindsley 12, Leon-
ard Ashlcv 16. William C. Trumbull U. George
Evans 17. John Davis 12. Oscar Alexander 7,
J B Frost 5. F. W. Lindsley IS. Delanny Linds-
ley !1 W. W Topin 12. W. S. Dayton 17. S. F.
D.ayton 19. Louis Miner 20. Gus Wood Ifi, David
Reed Ifi Ellas Reed 12. Adelbert Reed 11. GIr-
shim Foster 19. D. K. Bard. Richard Bowden
14 Daniel Bowden 10. Samiiel Peter Bowden S,
Ira A Walden Ifi, Marv Thomas IS, Ida Clough
12, Maggie Baldwin 5. Mary Woodard, Doratha
Mon.son 7. Marv Monson 11, Anna Monson 7,
Christina Mon.son 5, Anna Halverson IS, Carrie
Halverson 10, Lorlnda Fields In, Marian Fields
1" Kate Fields 10. Emma Lee 13, Hattie Lee S.
Flora Frost 7, M, E. Trumbull IS. Winifred
Llndslev S. Edith Lindsley fi, Mary Lindsley S,
Eva Eddv 7, Mnrv A. Miller S, Agnes Davton
20 Ida Peterson 17, Laura Evans 10, May Evans
8 Emma Evans fi. Frances Davis 10. Jane
Davis S, F. A. Lindsley 16. Laura Lindsley 14.
A B. Lindsley 12, Alice Lindsley. Ada Llnds-
Paid for teacher's waj^es durinj;
year GO on
Paid for rejjairs on scliool house
and jiremises 411.71
I'aiil for fuel, etc .5!). 41
Paid for all other purposes 42,50
Total paid durinp year $212,12
Money on lian.l . .$ 41 .73'
For several years after tlie little Imild-
ing (the seating capacity of which was
about 25) had outgrown its usefulness it
was used for school purposes. In the fall
of 1869 Miss Theresa Rice was employed
as teacher, and in 1870 A. H. Strong was
employed to conthict the school. As is so
often the case, efforts to provide ample
scliool facilities met with discouragement.
On December A, ISIO. the voters of ilie
district decided to build a new school
house at a cost of not over $4,000. On the
•.^(itli of tlie same montli another meeting
was held, wbeii a building coniniittee was
named to construct a .school house at a
cost of not more (ban $4,500 or less than
$l,.")(in. Hut for \arious reasons, the prin-
cipal one being the opposition of some of
the tax payers, the work was not prosecu-
ted. As a result no school was held dur-
ing the winter months, the old building
being declared unfit for school purposes.
Early in 187-2 the question of budd-
ing a school house again became a live is-
sue. The building committee named in
1870 made preparations to begin constnu-
tion. but at a school meeting held in Feb-
ruarv the voters reconsidered the action
taken and decided to jiostpone the work.
'{'be action was taken (Hi account of strong
opposition because of dread of increased
ta.xes. Wiien the court house was complete
ed in December, 1872, arrangements wer(>
lev 5. Ella Topin S, Ida Topin 6, Amelia Kel-
logg IB, Hnttle Benton 15. P. M, Kimball 11,
Lizzie Kimball 5. Minnesota Freeman Tt. Hat-
tie G,irralt S, IL'.nna (^lwlng 19, Luenea A.
Foster IS. Laura B. Hill 20. Sarah Bard Ifi,
.\ima S. B.ird 14. Ruhmina Bard S. Bard 10,
Sarah A. Bowden fi. Jenia Lyman 19, Freeman
Sweden 12, Emma Gilbert 6,
'The ability of the clerk to add and subtract
Is open to doubt.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COTTNTY.
237
made to occupy one of the rooms in it, but
dissensions arose, and the idea was aban-
doned. Then the hall over J. W. Cowing's
>toTe was rented and school was begi.m
there December 30, 1872.
Again in tlie spring of 1873 the dis-
trict decided to Iniild a frame house at a
cost, including grounds and furniture, of
not more than $4,000, but because of the
stringency of the money market, funds
-•ould not be obtained, and the work was
postponed. Favorable action was again tak-
en February 5, 1874. wlicn the school of-
ficers were authorized to bond for $3,600
for the purpo.se of providing Jackson with
a suitable school house, and this time the
work was accomplished. The contractor
was J. 0. Grout, and he completed the
building (now used as the city hall) late
in November. Its cost was $3,600, and it
i.s said to have been the finest school
building in southwestern Minnesota, out-
side of Mankato, at the time.
By act of the legislature in 1881 school
district No. 2 was made an independent
district, and it was organized May 10,
1881." The first board of education, chos-
en on that date, consisted of J. W. Hun-
ter, H. H. Hughes, J. W. Cowing, Alex-
ander Fiddcs B. W. Ashley and A. H.
Strong.
For twenty-one years the iiuilding erec-
ted in 1874 served as Jackson's school
house. Then the population had so far
outgrown the accommodations that a new
building became necessary," and the hand-
some brick structure now in use was erec-
ted. The matter of a new school house
was first officially discussed in June, 1893,
but on account of the panic then in force
it was decided to postpone building until
the next year. In March, 1894, the vo-
ters decided against bonding for $25,000
for a new school house by a vote of 63
•"The district included all of sections 13. 24,
25. 26 and 35 and parts of sections 12, 14, 23,
27, 34 and 36, all in Des Moines township.
to 91, but there was a change of senti-
ment the next year, for at the regular
school meeting in March, 1895, bonds to
the amount of $35,000 were carried by
a vote of 131 to 39. The structure was
erected during the summer of 1895 by
Decks & Company, contractors. The same
season a ward school house was built on
Depot hill, the cost of the two buildings
being $28,500.
A high school course was added to the
common branches taught, and the Jack-
son schools rank among the best in the
state of Minnesota.
THE CHURCHES.
Of the many church organizations in
Jackson, the oldest i.> that of the Metho-
dist Episcopal. So early as 1860 or 1861
Kev. Peter Baker, that pioneer preacher
of the gospel, organized a Methodist class
fi-om the scattered settlers residing in the
vicinity of the present day village of Jack-
son, and ever since the organization has
been maintained. For years the class was
without a regular pastor and without 'a
house of worship. For a time in the late
sixties seiwices were held only every third
Sabbath, the pulpit being occupied by Eev.
l\ichardson, of Okoboji.
A quarterly conference was held at
Jackson on May. 1, 1869, presided over
by Norris Hobart, presiding elder, with
T. H. White acting as secretary, at which
time the following persons were named
trustees of the First Methodist church
of Jackson: Aiken Miner, H. S. Bailey,
Welch Ashley, M. S. Clough, Stillman S.
Barrett, Chancy W. Cornish and William
C. Campbell. From that time a strong
organization was maintained, and in the
spring of 1870 the church had a member-
ship of over one hundred. During its
entire early history the Methodist church
was without a house of worship, but after
238
ins'i'oin' oi' .lAcKsox corx'i'V.
the Presbvterian chuvcli was erected in
1869 the Methodists worshipped tliere.
Not until 1880 was the Methodist
church building erected. In the spring of
that year the church members solicited
money from the people of Jackson,' the
building was erected during the summer,
and the dedication exercises were held Oc-
tober 3. The cost of the building was
$2,000.
Jackson's second oldest church organ-
ization and the first to erect a house of
worship in the village is the First Presby-
terian clnircli. which was organized in
18G8. During the summer of that year
the Presbyterian Synodical missionary,
"Rev. David C. Lyon, accompanied by Eev.
Edward Savage, who had just been gradu-
ated from college and who was looking
fur a local inn, came to the little village
of Jackson. Here, in J. W. Cowing's un-
finished store building, on June 14, 18fi8,
the first Presbyterian sermon was preach-
ed.' Rev. Savage made preparations for
'FoHowlnjr Is the list of rnntrllnitlons roreivod
In M.-irrh, ISSO: Wplcli .Ashley. J150; "Friend
of the r.iuse." R. W. .AshUv and J. .\. Russell.
JlOO: Simeon .\verv. $75; .\. C. VVhitm.Tn. F. M.
Smith. K. Owens and H. H. Hnshes, $50; F,d-
ward Oir. .T. VV. Hunter, T. J. Knox. .Mexander
FIddes. IX. M .\verv. S. F. Krskine. P. F. Rrown
& Son and William Y. Kim;:. $:.'>: H. A. Mor-
gan V. \V. Smith. $2n: G. C. Chamberlin. n. F.
Chandler and K. P. Gould. JIB; T. A. Camphell.
W. J. Case. John JiinRbauer. A. H. StronK. John
Paulson. H. W. Chandler. G. R. Moore. Alfred
A-shdown, O. I. I.indsley and M. L. Ashley. JIO.
"Rev. Kdward Savapre. in 1S95. wrote as fol-
lows of his eomlnir to Jaekson and the hegin-
ninc of his serviee;
"My eomlnp to J.iekson was, to use a Tliber-
niclsm. almost 'unbeknownst to mesilf.* Rev.
D. C. Lynn, then Synodieal missionary for the
old school of the Presbyterian ehurch. had vis
ited me at the theolopleal seminary at Alle-
gheny. Pennsylvania, and had talked Minne-
sota to me. .\s he was an old friend of our
family and eall.'d himself one of my father's
bovs. I naturally notified him when I was ready
with mv mustang ponv and buggy for a field
of labor. Tnder his direetlons I was to meet
him at T.aCrosse and strike west until we came
to unnecunled ground. This was about January
1. 18fiS. Mr. T.ynn. having other work, rear-
ranged to meet me later at .\ustin. ^vhleh he
did. and together we Journeyed on in the
oourse of the star of the empire, finding Pres-
byterian or Congregational organizations until
w-e passed Fairmont. Mr. I.yon renewed eaeh
day Greeley's eounsel. 'Go west, young man."
We reaehfd Jaekson on June 11. IStlS. and found
J. W. Tinnier In a modest store, with Thomas
White residing in>-st,iirs. G. C. Chamberlin.
as I remember, was the prinoiiial legal light.
Mr. Lvon. In his happy way. soinided the char-
tlie early organization of a church so-
ciety, and on August 30, 1868, the First
Presbyterian church of Jackson was for-
mally organized. At the time there was
not another church of the old school west
or south of Waseca and none of the new
school west of Blue Eartii City.
Kev. David C. Lyon, Rev. Sheldon Jack-
son, then pastor of the Presbyterian
iliurch of Roche.ster, and Rev. Edward Sav-
age conducted the organization services.
John W. Cowing was ordained ruling el-
dor, and the following persons were re-
ceived into membership: John W. Cowing,
William Miller, Mrs. Mary Miller, M. A.
Seymour, Jlrs. Mary Seymour, Jfrs. Sally
]\r. Bailey, all by letter; Mrs. Frances ^I,
Kimball, Miss Helen A. Dunn, Mi.s.s Eu-
phrasia A. Cook and George H. Vinall."
Tlie early services of the church were
held in the little school house which stood
near the bayou in the south part of town.'"
Inif in ISi'iD tlio congregation raised mon-
ev and erected Jackson's first church
aeter of the place. . , Mr. Hunter was
found to he a T'nited Presbyterian. The hotel
keeper. Mr. Hall, stated that Mr. Cowing, n
young man who had started a store building
and was then away aftc goods, was a Pres-
byterian. Major Bailey was a Free Will Bap-
tist, but had a christian .sympathy for a tired
horse and loaned us a large hay marc to can-
vass the crnintr>' W'^st of town.
"On Sabbath. Jtme l-l. our first service was
held in Mr. Cowing's I'.nfinished store building.
Mr. Cowing not yet having arrived. Mr. l.von
pr'\ached In the morning and the subscriber
In the .ifternoon. .Vfl.'r service Mr. I.yon stat-
ed that the young man he proposed leaving had
nothing Inil himself and his mustang pony, and
he hoped the people would stand by him In his
work. The next morning he said to me; 'Here.
Rd. is your place. It is a clear field. The
Methodist brother comes onlv once in three
weeks. Oceupv the vacant Sabbaths. Po your
best, and the lord be with you.' .\nd leaving
me ten dollars, he took the stage for Winne-
bago."
"James W. Hunter and family were members
of another Presbyterian church and had not
received their letters of dismissal at the time.
A little while after the organization the fol-
lowing were received Into memhershi|): Mrs.
.\gnes T-Iunter. Miss Agnes Hunter (now Mrs.
.Mixander FIddesV Pavid Hunter and James
W. Hunter.
•""One more word for the Inspiring environ-
ment that T neglected to mention It was the
pulnit It was a boot case that Mr. Cowing
and I dhe session of the Presbyterian church^
gohbbd from the front of Mr. Hunter's store
one Sunday morning on our way to chinch,
carried It between u.'!i to the school house, stood
It on end and covered It with a copy of the
/U J^u LIBRARY
/"iTCn, L-
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
2;-{9
building. In tliis building (now trans-
formed into the D. W. Pulver residence)
the members of the Presbyterian church
worshipped until the present beau I if ul
church took its place in 1902. The build-
ing was put up largely through the un-
tiring efforts of Rev. Savage, assisted by
J. W. Cowing, J. W. Hunter and others."
The board of trustees at the time the
fluireh was built consisted of James W.
Hunter, John W. Cowing, W. S. Kimball,
George C. Chamberlin, Everett P. Free-
nuiii and John H. Grant.
At tJie time the church was built all
finished products, such as shingles, brick
and other building material, had to be
hauled from Mankato at an expense of
$1.00 to $3.50 per hundred pounds. Na-
tive lumber was used, and was cut in the
woods along the Des Moines river. A single
walnut log furni.^hed ibe sills of the en-
tire building — 40x24 feet. This log was cut
just north of the I\. S. Robertson farm,
about two miles from town, and it took
Rev. Savage and Elder John W. Cowing
two days to roll this log up the steep ra-
vine. Five ox teams were required in per-
forming this feat. The cost of the build-
ing was $2,500, and it was dedicated Sep-
tember 18, 1870. Ten years later im-
provements to the value of $500 were
made.
The Presbyterian church society was
incorporated February 12, 1877, at which
time the following trustees were elected :
James W. Hunter, Thomas J. Knox, M.
Northwestern Presbyterian, a Chicago paper
edited by Rev. Ebenezer Erskine. Mr. Hunter
came to church and got his return for lost
property Ondeed it was quite valuable as a
seat for the politicians of the day. outside the
store) in the improved sermons." — Rev. Edward
Savage. 1895.
^'"He [Rev. Savage] succeeded in securing
funds for building the church. He gave notice
one Sunday that he would preach no more for
a time, but proposed to go to work and help
build the church. . He 'rigged up' for
work, got a yoke of oxen and an old wagon and
went to hauling material for the building." —
M. A. Strong. April 18, 1888.
A. Strong, Alexander Fiddes, George C.
Chamberlin and A. H. Strong.
Rev. Savage remained the pastor of the
church for eleven years, with the excep-
tion of one year while he was in Wisconsin.
During that year, 1872-73, the church was
served by Rev. Edward J. Hamilton, a
professor of Hanover college, Indiana. In
1879 Rev. Savage was .succeeded by Rev.
J. K. Alexander, who was pastor four
years. In 1883 Rev. H. C. Cheadle be-
came pastor and served the church eight
years, until the close of the year 1891,
when he resigned. During the next five
years, from 1891 to 1896, the following
three pastors served th^e church in the or-
der named : Rev. W. E. Morgan, Eev. W.
Weatherstoue and Rev. E. S. McClure.
During Mr. Morgan's pastorate the manse
was erected. In 1896 Rev. Russell B. Ab-
bott, D. D., was called to the pastorate,
and he remained until the summer of
1900. During the five years pastorate of
his successor. Rev. T. N. Weaver, the pres-
ent beautiful brick church edifice was con-
structed at a cost, including furnishings,
of about $16,000. It was built in 1901 and
was dedicated free of debt June 22, 1902.
In the fall of 1905 Rev. Weaver resigned,
and March 1, 1906, the present pastor.
Rev. Walter M. Swann, began his minis-
try in Jackson.
At the present time the Presbyterian
church of Jackson has an active member-
ship of 138, and the Sunday school 180.
The trustees are Fred D. Sawyer, presi-
dent ; H. L. Arzt, secretary; W. D. Hun-
ter, treasurer ; George R. Moore. A. H.
Strong and J. E. Barrett. The elders are
John W. Cowing, Joseph Bushnell, W.
A. Pepper, J. B. Arp, clerk of session ; C.
C. Baker and H. R. Laugen.
The Norwegian Lutheran Evangelical
church was organized May 5, 1880, and
several vears later a church edifice was
erected at a cost of $2,500.
240
HISTORY OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
The Xonveginn Lullieiaiis, early iu
lSS(i, decided to erect a building in
.Jackson on a lot owned in the western
part of town. Enougli money was raised
l)y subscription to warrant beginniiifj work,
wliich was done in the summer. The liard
times prevailinji; that year prevented its
furnishing, but the bare building was used
as a house of worsliip so soon as it was
completed — in November, 1886, for the
first time.
St. Wcuccslaus Catholic church was
built in 1893. So earlv as 188-2 Catholic
services were held in Jackson, and in 188.")
the first efTorts to raise money to put up
a building were made. In .\pril, 1889, it
was announced that a church would be
built that year, but it was not. Again in
May, 1891, a meeting was held at Jack-
son, presided over by Fathers Legday, of"
Winona, and Reichel, of Heron Lake,
v.hen it was decided to commence build-
ing operations at once. A finance com-
mittee, composed of Father Reichel, Frank
Motl and Frank Skalisky. and a building
committee, compo.sed of William HulTman.
Martin Klarncr and Tuni Vancura. were
ajijiointed. The foundation wa.* laid that
fall, but work on the superstructure was
not begun until tJie spring of 1892. (in
June I."), of that year, a wind storm blow
down the building, then in course of con-
struction, entailing a loss of about $500.
Tlie Catholic cluirch was finally complet-
eil in tiie spring of 189;?. The church
edifice is valued at $2,400 and the parson-
age at $1,.500.
The German Lutheran church was erec-
IimI in 1898.
The Episcopal church was erected in
1901 at a cost of $3,000. In 1898 the
Ladies Guild of Christ church was or-
ganized with ten members, witii the object
of purchasing a lot upon which to build
so soon as a church should he organized.
Bishop Whipple organized the mission and
appiiinlcd tlic bishop's committee, com-
pa*ed of the following: 1{. F. Robertson,
.\. E. Serum, F. B. Fabcr. W. A'. King
and Eugene Rucker.
Tin: i.otKiKs.
The first secret order to be organized in
Jack.son wa.< the Masonic. On February
■.*;5, 1871, a number of JIasons met and
took the ])reliminary steps toward or-
ganizing, .^electing as the name of their
lodge Des Moines ^'alley Lodge. Over
twenty members were enrolled, and the
rolloA\ing were chosen officers to serve
V. bile the lodge was working under dis-
pensation: E. P. Freeman. W. M. : Alex-
ander Fiddes. S. W. : G. C. Chamberlin,
J. W. ; H. 'Wliite, treasurer: J. W. Cowing,
secretary: S. C. Thayer. S. D. : Harvey
Klock. .1. 1).: Willian King, Thomas
Ilumpjircy. stewards: W. S. Kind)all, ty-
Icr. The dispensation arrived in .\pril, the
lodge being named Good Faith Lodge No.
90, and having thirteen members.
The charter for Good Faith Lodge was
granted in Februarv, 1872, and on Febru-
ary 1.5 the following officers were installed :
E. P. Freeman, W. M. : Alexander Fiddes,
S. W. : J. H. Wakefield, J. W. : J. J. Por-
ter, treasurer: J. W. Cowing, secretary ;
William King. S. D. ; Thomas Humph-
reys, J. D.: jr. A. Strong. S. D. ; C. B.
Tuttle. J. S. : W. S. Kimball, tyler.
The Grand Army of the Republic also
began its local organization in 1871. Au-
gust 15 veterans of tlie civil war met and
decided to petition the authorities for the
establishment of a post in Jackson. The
|in,-;t. naiiieil Wa<lswor(b Post No. 30, was
niustcnMl in l)y Major .T. C. Hamilton,
comniandcr of the department of Minne-
sota. Tuesday evening. September ."). 1871.
'i'licre were thirty-two charter members,
and the ])ost was the largest ever before
mustered in by Jlajor Hamilton in the
state. Following were the first officers
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
241
and charter members: John A. Myers,
commander; H. S. Bailey, senior vice com-
mander; W. A. Fields, junior vice com-
mander; William King, adjutant; M. A.
Strong, quartermaster; Dr. E. L. Brown-
ell, surgeon; Charles Frisbie, chaplain; C.
H. Sandon, sergeant : Henry Knudson,
quartermaster sergeant ; W. S. Kimball,
officer- of the day; A. E. Wood, officer
of the guard ; 0. F. Alexander, A. S.
Brooks, E. E. Bowden, G. C. Chamber-
lin, S. jr. Clark, S. E. Ford, A. 0. Hoov-
da, Alex Hall, N. B. Hall, C. H. Heath.
J. K. Johnson, A. D. King, M. Miller, H.
Miller. I. A. Moreaux, J. J. Smith, I. G.
Walden, Walter Withers, M. L. Ashley, J.
J. Patterson, M. S. Barney.
Wadsworth post flourished for a time and
rapidly increased its membership. Then
interest lagged iu the organization and it
become dormant. A reorganization was
effected February 7, 1875, the lodge was
active a short time, but the organization
was disbanded in 1877. Commanders of
Wadsworth ])ost were John A. Myers, E.
L. Brownell, M. A. Strong, H. S. Bailey
and G. B. Franklin.
Interest in G. A. R. matters was revived
during the prosperous days of the early
eighties, and during that period a local
organization came into existence which
has ever since been maintained. The in-
itial meeting was held December 29, 1883,
when it was decided to organize a lodge
to be named John A. Myers post, in hon-
or of the first commander of the earlier
organization who had since died. John
A. Myers Post No. 60 was mustered in
January 23, 1884, by Commander L. M.
Lange, of Worthington. Following were
the first officers and charter members : H.
S. Bailey, commander ; G. C. Chamberlin,
senior vice commander; C. II. Sandon,
junior vice commander; M. A. Strong, ad-
jutant; M. L. Ashley, quartermaster; E.
J. Orr, chaplain; I. 6. Walden, surgeon;
Fred Quentin, oll'icer of tiie day; 0. F.
Alexander, officer of the guard; W. S.
Kimball, sergeant major; H. W. Peck,
ijuartermaster sergeant ; W. Y. King, Wil-
liam Lamont, J. A. Goodrich, N. Hall, W.
\. Fields, John Paulson, Levi Davis, I.
S. Barrett.'- Duiing tlie twenty-six years
the post has maintained an active organi-
zation, the officers have been prompt in
the discharge of their duties, and the post
has frequently been mentioned by the de-
partment off'icers and its ott'icers com-
mended. The post has a membership at
present of about thirty-five.
John A. Myers Corps No. 34, Woman's
Relief Corjjs, was organized August 23,
1887, with the following officers and char-
ter members : Mrs. Lizzie M. Dunn, presi-
dent ; Mrs. A. Wilson, senior vice presi-
dent ; Mrs. A. Sandon, junior vice presi-
dent: ilrs. E. A. Barney, secretary; Mrs.
A. L. King, treasurer ; Mxi^. Joseph Bush-
nell, chaplain : ]\Irs. Anna Dunn, conduc-
tor; Mrs. 0. Alexander, assistant conduc-
tor; Mrs. Ann Miller, guard; iliss Lelia
Nourse, assistant guard ; ]\Ie.*dames E. H.
Pepper, Anna L. SmitJi, JIartha V. Allen,
Ruth R. Orr, Helen A. Logue, Thomas
Clipperton, Anna Thomas.
Among the pioneer secret societies of
.Tackson is Jackson Lodge No. 49, Ancient
Oj-der United Workmen, which was organ-
ized July 8, 1879, with the following first
officers and charter members : Alexander
Fiddes, past master workman ; Robert
Sergant, master workman ; T. J. Knox,
foreman; A. H. Strong, overseer: A. C.
AVliitman, recorder; L. 0. Randall, finan-
cier; P. H. Berge, receiver; E. P. Gould,
guide; G. K. Tiffany, inside watch; Fred-
erick Quinlin, outside watch ; J. A. Rob-
'=Others who became members within a few
months after the organization were M. L.
Bromashim. W. A. Pepper. J. A. Wilson. G.
Cole. Edward Gruhlke. J. A. Patterson. Jareb
Palmer. S. MiddauRh. Charles B. Rouse, M. S.
Seelv. C. M. Hardv. Walter Withers. George
Biewer. J. C. Davis. H. S. Schlott. William
Ballard. J. B. Moses, M. S. Barney and Alexan-
der Spencer.
242
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
inson, U. F. Alo.xiuuler, II. II. lluglies, F.
M. Smith, Evan Owens, E. A. Hatch. M.
H. Smith.
Tlie present nienibership of A. 0. U.
W. lodge is si.xty. Following are the offi-
cers: .7. H. Nourse, P. M. W. : John Ean-
(lall. M. W.: E. W. Broniagliim, F. ; R. \V.
Brown, 0.; John Qualev. recorder; Alex-
ander Fiddes, financier; Y. W. Avery, re-
ceiver; Charles R. Gee, guide; Robert
Bartoseh, I. W. ; li. .\. Husbv, 0. W.
Des Moines Yalley Lodge No. I'iG, In-
dependent Order Odd Fellows, was organ-
ized May 20, 1889, with si.x charter mem-
bers as follows: A. H. .Mien. W. A. Funk.
W. \. Conrad. .\. .1. Patterson, R. Van
Orniau and H. .Vudrewsen. The follow-
ing were chosen as the first officers: A. B.
Allen, noble grand ; W. A. Conrad, vice
grand; H. Andrcwsen, secretary; R. Van
Orman, treasurer. At the present time the
lodge has a membership of forty-seven.
It owns real estate and lodge property to
the value of $3,500.
:Maplc Grove Camp No. 1069, Modern
Woodmen of America, was organized Feb-
ruary 5, 1891. with seventeen charter
members. Following w-ere the first offi-
cers: \. B. Crane, consul; H. H. Hughes,
advisor; John Muir, banker; E. C. Wilson,
clerk; William Trumbull, escort; A.
Gruhlke. watchman; A. O. Berg, sentry;
Douglas Pulvcr, H. 11. Hughes and T.
'I\ Gronland, managers.
I Idly Trinity Court No. 694. Catholic
Order Foresters, was granted a charter
June 2T. 189T, and it has ever .since main-
tained an organization. The first officers
and charter members were as follows: J.
M. Voda. C. n.; Jo.-eph Klemm. V. C. R. ;
Kev. P. I'. Kloss. P. ( . 1!.: .1. .T. Pribyi.
I{. S. ; Wensel .Motl, F. S. ; .Martin Arndt.
treasurer; John ^lagyar, Louis Kiesel,
J. .\. Timko. John Hassing, William Motl,
Bernard C. Lilly. Frank Benda. Frank J.
Bertels, Emii Calta, Henry J. Hassing,
Frank Svoboda, Henry Wilhalm. Edward
Willialiii. J. \'. Makovieka, John Steiner.
'i'lie lodge has a present membership of
si.\ty-two.
Jackson Lodge No. Hin. Knights of Py-
thias, was instituted :\rareli 22, 1900, with
the following first officers: A'. I". P.\itler.
C. C; W. P. King, V. C. ; W . ( . ilait-
son. P.; Charles F. Albertus. M. W.: Bert
tjillespie, K. R. S.; M;nk 1). Ashley, M.
v.: Frank Phillips, .\1. .\.: William Bal-
lan). 1. G.; Joe Trca, 0. G.
TllK 1S.\NKS.
Ill Jackson are three banking institu-
tions, all organized under the national
banking laws. These are the Brown Na-
tional Bank, the First National Bank and
the Jackson National Bank.
The first financial institution to begin
business in Jackson — and in .lackson
county — was the Bank of Jackson, a pri-
vate institution ojiened by John K. Brown,
who had formerly been ciniuected with the
Southern Minnesota Railroad company,
late in January. ISIO." ^Mr. Brown was
sole owner of the Bank of Jackson until
]\[arch 1, 1892, when the owners became
John K. Brown & Company. Cashier Hen-
rik Strom having taken an interest. In
litOl Herman L. Strom purchased the in-
terests of Henrick Strom, the firm name
remaining the same. In 1905 the institu-
tion was reorganized under the name of
Brown National Bank, with a capital stock
of $40,000. and began business under the
new title July 1. The officers at that
time were John K. lirown. president; J.
W. Cowing, vice president ; IT. L. Strom,
cashier. The present officers of tlie Brown
'■'••The Rink of Jackson, is now one of onr
proud Instltiitions nnH i.s li.v far the neatest
anil nobbiest istablishmcnt in town. It may
be found in the hulUlinc north of the Ashley
hou.se where the Rood lookinp. courteous and
centlemanlv presidinp Renins. Mr. John K.
Brown will be Rlad to accommodate patrons in
his line and transact a strict IjankinK business
on strict business principles."— Jackson Repub-
lic. February 1. 1879.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
243
National Bank are J. W. Cowing, presi-
dent; T. J. Knox, vice president; H. L.
Strom, cashier; J. J. Pribyl, assistant
cashier.
Jackson's second bank was a private
bank opened by George E. Moore De-
cember 1. 1887, under tlie title, G. E.
Moure, Banker. J. K. Skarberg was the
cashier. It was reorganized as the State
Bank of Jackson with a capital stock of
$25,000 April 1, 1890, beginning business
under the new style May 15. The incorpor-
ators were George E. Moore, P. H. Berge,
J. W. Cowing, T. .1. Knox, Alexander
Fiddes, G. A. Albertus, A. H. Strong, F.
W. Lindsley and M. B. Hutchinson. The
State Bank of Jackson was reorganized as
the Fir.?t National Bank in June, 1901,
with the following board of directors :
George E. Moore, 0. B. Olson, T. J. Knox,
Alexander Fiddes and P. H. Berge. The
capital and surplus of the First National
is $45,000. The present- officers are George
R. Moore, president ; P. H. Berge, vice
president; A. B. Cheadle, cashier; 0. B.
Olson, assistant casliier.
The Jackson National Bank was organ-
ized in 1903, beginning business January
4, 1904, with tlie following officers and
board of directors: H. G. Anderson, presi-
dent ; W. C. Portmann, vice president ; A.
W. Quinn, cashier ; W. D. Hunter, assist-
ant cashier ; F. W. Lindsley, J. H. Quinn
and H. H. Berge. The officers at present
are H. G. Anderson, president; W. C.
Portmann, vice president ; W. D. Hunter,
cashier; Asher 0. Nasby, assistant cash-
ier.
Another financial institution of Jack-
son is the Jackson Building and Loan As-
sociation, which was organized in 1891,
and which has been instrumental in tlie
building of many of the beautiful liomcs
of Jackson.
THE FIRE DEPARTJ[E\T.
Prior to 1883 Jackson was absolutely
without protection from fire. Then the
village council began to consider the mat-
ter of affording protection. The Jackson
Republic of October 13, 1883, reported a
meeting of the village council as follows:
At tlie meeting of tlic village council last
Tuesday [October 9] the subject of fire pro-
tection in Jackson was discussed at length.
Councilman Fiddes was requested to corre-
spond with dealers as to the cost of buckets,
hooks, ladders, etc., and W. S. Kimball was
appointed fire warden with instructions to ex-
amine chimneys and enforce the provisions of
ordinance No. 8. Upon motion of Councilman
Cowing it was proposed that the residents or
owners of every l>lock who would put in a
well be supplied with a pump and hose by the
village.
From this legislation developed the
Jackson fire department. In 1885 more
advanced measures were taken. In April
the contract was let for tlie digging of
four wells on Second street, at tlic corners
of Grant, Sherman, Ashley and White
streets, and in May the council purchased
of Baldwin Brothers, of Winona, a hand
fire engine, 300 feet of common hose and
25 feet of suction hose, the total cost of
which was $ti27. To handle this equip-
ment a fire coiiipany with 48 members
was organized July 23. The first officers
of this pioneer company were as follows:
H. H. Hughes, fire warden ; A. C. Serum,
captain ; S. Swenson, chief engineer ; Gil-
bert Seilstad, hose foreman ; J. W. Jen-
son, secretary. The company was given of-
ficial recognition August 8, when the vil-
lage council approved the officers. This
organization was not long maintained.
Witli few duties to perform, the members
soon lost interest, and the company was
finally disbanded.
When the water works system was in-
stalled in 1892 came the demand for an
up-to-date fire department. The village
authorities purchased new equipment, and
on January 2, 1893, there was organized
244
IllsroUY OF .lACKSON COUNTY.
the present department. Following were
the first officers and the charter members:
H. G. Anderson, foreman; Georfjo Burn-
ham, assistant foreman ; 0. A. Sathe, sec-
ond assistant foreman : S. J. Dunn, sec-
retary ; H. O. Brown, treasurer; V. W.
Avery. L. Leeocq. H. M. Burnham, Ed.
Bophi. Alhert {iriililkc. 'SI. L. Asjiloy, Sam
Wooiworth, 1). P. Maitlaiid. Henry Iloe.^li.
Clarence Ellsworth. .\rt l-",lls\Mirlh, i''rMiii<
Gerlach. John (Jualey. Lewis Iverson and
Nels Ludviffseii. l-'niire new equipment
was bought in ilarch. 18!)."), including
hose cart, hook and ladder truck, Imse and
uniforms.
AGRICULTURAL .SOCIETY.
The agricultiiral MH-iety cd' dack-son i?
one of the oldest in southwestern Minne-
sota. It was organized in IScif). when the
first county fair was held. For years the
society was maintained with meager finan-
cial support, and tiie annual fairs were
l)rimitive aflFairs, held generally in some
vacant Imildiiig in tiic vilhig(\
A reorganization was brought about in
1897, and an effort was made to put tlie
society on a .sound financial footing. Life
memberships were sold at fifteen dollars,
and over one hundred people subscribed,
but only a small number were paid for.
The same year twenty-five acres of laud
were purchased from B. \V. Ashley and
George R. lloore, south nf the depot,
indldings were erected, and a race track
was built, the total cost of which wa&
about $2,500. The society went into debt
for nearly all the improvements and the
land, hoping to wipe out the indebtedness
later by successful fairs. Weather condi-
tions were unfavorable, and as a result no
headway was made. The conditions had
reached such a stage at the beginning of
tlic year 1908 that bankruptcy threatened,
and then it was the new society was
formed.
The agriiultural society wa.s reorganized
anil incorporated in May, 1908, with a
capital stock of $20,000 and with the fol-
lowing officers and board of directors: W.
\V. Wold. ]iresident ; Noah Uaniey, vice
pnsiiicnt : II. B. Gillespie, secretary: H.
L. Stuck, treasurer; George Weise, Harry
M. Burnbani. ('. 1'. Xisscn. llans Sether.
II. .1. Yeadicke and II. L. Strom. The
sdciciy is now on a sound financial basis,
recently improvements have been made at
the grounds, and the fairs in recent years
have lieeii highlv successful.
THE NEV/ YORK
^^BLIC LIBRARY
l:
*«T0»1, LENOX AMO
T«- = £N FOu,-.-D*T„
"•iC
main:street, lakefikld
SOUTH MAIN STREET, LAKEFIELD
CHAPTER XIX.
LAKEFIELD— 1879-1910.
RAXKING second in size, according
to tlie last census, among Jackson
county towns is Lalcefield. The vil-
lage is situated in Heron J.ake and Hun-
ter townships and is in almost the exact
geographical center of the county, its busi-
ness center being less than one mile from
the central point. It is only a short dis-
tance from the head of Heron lake, that
great expanse of water which is noted tlie
country over as a hunters' paradise. Lake-
field is on the Southern Minnesota divi-
sion of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
lailroad, and is twelve miles west and
north of Jackson. The population in 190.T
was 91G, inn the census of 1910 will un-
doubtedly show an increase.
As regards trade territory, Lakefield has
a stragetic location, drawing its trade from
an immense area of exceptionally prosper-
ous country. To the north, northeast, south
and southwest there are no towns for many
miles, and to Lakefield comes the trade
from long distances in those directions.
The town is compactly built and presents
an attractive appearance. It has broad
streets, lined with substantial busine.~s
houses and handsome residences.
No more beautiful site for a town could
be found. It is located on high, rolling
ground, of a greater elevation than the
surrounding country, exactly on the divide
or watershed which separates the two great
watercourses of the west — the Mississippi
and the Missouri.^ There is plenty of room
fin' the town to grow without taking in a
foot of low or swampy ground. All the
improvements to bo found m Minnesota
towns of its size are in Lakefield. It ha.s
an excellent waterworks system, electric
light plant, good schools and churches.
Of the three principal towns of Jackson
county, Lakefield was the last to come in-
to existence. Jackson had been founded in
1866, Heron Lake in 1871, as a result
of the building of the Sioux City road;
Lakefield did not take its place on the map
until 1879, when the Southern Minnesota
(later the Milwaukee) railroad extended
to the northwest from Jackson.
During the early seventies quite a num-
ber of homesteaders had located upon the
government lands surrounding the future
town of Lakefield, but during the terrible
grasshopper days no improvements were
made, many people moved away, and the
actual settlement of that part of the coun-
ty may be said to have begun only in the
late seventies. In 1878, when it was be-
'"Nearly seventeen years ago [1S67] we first
traveled the road between Graham lakes and
Jackson, and on the route, about one and one-
half miles from lake Heron, was a piece of
country elevated above that surrounding it and
known as 'the first mound,' We little thought
that it would be as it is today the site for a
flourishing little village." — Judge B. W. Wool-
stencroft in Fulda Republican, June, 1S84,
245
246
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
lieved tlie grasshoppers had left the coun-
try for good aud it was kuowu that the
railroad was to be pushed on to the west,
come a change in conditions. New settlers
poured in, bought lands in the theretofore
thinly settled townships, made improve-
ments and became permanent settlers.
When, in the spring of 1879, the line for
the extension west of Jackson was defi-
nitely made, came more settlers, who lo-
cated upon the choice lands along the right
of-way. The work of grading the roadbed
M'as begun April 22, the track was laid to
tlie junction with the Sioux City road Au-
gust 1, and regular train service was es-
tablished November 3. But some months
before tlie road was completed two towns
had been founded near the liead of Heron
lake.
Henry Knudson, wlio owned the north-
west quarter of section 32, Heron Lake
township, which was crossed by the sur-
veyed line of the new road, laid out a tow^n
on his land early in May, which he named
Jackson Center.^ The plat of the town-
site was drawn on paper, but the land
was not surveyed. Mr. Knudson made prep-
arations for building a little town at that
point, expecting tliat the railway company
would put in a side track and establisli a
station there. He erected a store building,
in which he opened a general store, and
built a residence, which were the only
building improvements made on the site,
and he and his family and Knud Thoreson
and his family wore tiie only inhabitants.
Late in September the Jackson Center
postoffice was establisiied with Mr. Knud-
son in charirc. The postoffice was main-
tained until the spring of 1880; then the
Lakefield ofTico was established and Mr.
Knudson resigned, the office being then
'"Henry Knudson has commenced platting a
town at the .south end of Heron lake, near the
Southern Minnesota railroad. It Is located on
the northwest fiuarter of section 32. Heron
t.ake township. We learn he l.s nhout to erect
a. hotel bulldini; on the plat." — Jackson Repub-
lic, May 10. 1879.
discontinued. In the spring of 1882, Mr.
Knudson moved his store building to the
new town of Lakclield, and the history
of Jackson Center came to an end.
Differences between Mr. Knudson and
the Southern Minnesota railway officials
were responsible for the failure of the com-
pany to locate a station at Jackson Center
and also the building of a town at Lake-
field, a mile southwest of Jlr. Knudson's
site. J. C. Easton, of the railroad com-
pany, was willing to locate a station at
Jackson Center providing he could pur-
chase Mr. Knudson's 210 acre farm for
five dollars per acre. The owner refused
to sell at that figure, but he offered to deed
to Mr. Easton and the other officials a half
interest in forty or eighty acres for rail-
road purposes free of charge, the balance
of the farm to bo divided into lots to be
owned jointly by Mr. Knudson and the
officials. These terms were refused, and
negotiations were brought to a close early
in the summer.
A. IJ. Kilen, who was in the vicinity,
learned of the rupture between Jlr. Knud-
son and the railroad officials and was not
slow to take advantage of the conditions.
He looked over the ground and decided
that the west half of the southwest quarter
of section .'53, Heron Lake township, would
make an excellent location for a townsite.
Not knowing who was the owner of the
.-ightly eighty acre tract, "Sir. Kilen walked
to the county seat, consulted the records,
learned in whose name the land was as-
sessed, and then walked to Windoni, where
he boarded a train for St. Paul. There he
located the owner of the site, bought the
])roperty, and rpturuod with the deed in
his pocket.
The prospective town founder mailc
terms with the railroad officials, and in
the latter part of July the company lo-
cated a side track on the land.' Mr. Kilen
'"The side track next west of Jackson has
been located on the west half of the southwest
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
2i7
at once set about having the land sur-
veyed, and in a short time a little village
appeared on liie prairie.
The original townsite of Lakefield, locat-
ed on the west half of the southwest quar-
ter of section 33, was surveyed by James
E. Palmer September 3, 1879, and the
dedication was made by Anders K. Kilen
September 5. It consisted of eight blocks
only, the streets running north and south
being named Bush, Main and Plum, and
the east and west streets, Broadway, Sec-
ond and Third.' The land upon which it
was located was a part of the grant to the
St. Paul & Sioux City Eailway company.*
Before the site was surveyed there was
considerable activity at the new station
and several had made arrangements to en-
ter into business in the new town. The
name lirst selected for the village was
quarter of section 33 and the south half of the
southeast quarter of section 32. in Heron Lake
township. It is on land belonging to Anders
R. Kilen, about a mile east of the head of
Heron lake, and about twelve miles from Jack-
son A town is already being platted, and soon
a good business point will spring up at that
station."— Jackson Republic, July 26, 1879.
'.Additions to Lakefield have been platted as
follows:
South Lakefield. November 28, 1882; surveyed
by James E. Palmer.
Griffin's, by Joshua H. Brady November li,
1SS5; surveyed by L. L. Palmer.
Funk's, by Louis F. Menage August 10, 1S92;
surveyed by L. L. Palmer.
Frederickson's Addition to South Lakefield,
by John Frederickson April 5, 1894; surveyed
by C. W. Gove.
Hollister's, by H. J. Hollister June 17, 189a;
surveyed by J. L. Hoist.
A. R. Kilen's. by A R. Kilen September li,
1898; surveyed by J. L. Hoist.
Park, by W. A. Funk August 8, 1899; sur-
veyed bv J. L. Hoist.
Mrs. Bergh's, by Mrs, A. M. Bergh May 13,
1901; surveyed by J. L. Hoist.
=Titles to lands embraced within the present
boundaries of Lakefield were received from the
government as follows: Rasmus Larson home-
steaded the southeast quarter of the northeast
quarter of section 32, Heron Lake township, and
received his patent December 20, 1881. Chris-
topher B. Rubert received his patent to the
northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
the same section October 10, 1876. Edward E.
Bergh received his patent to the southeast
quarter of the southeast quarter of the same
section March 1, 1877. The west half of section
33 was railroad land, granted to the St. Paul &
Siou-x City company. The northwest quarter of
section 4, Hunter township, was homesteaded
by James W. Forrest, and he received title June
20. 1875. The northeast quarter of the north-
east quarter of section 5 was received by the
St Paul & Sioux City company from the com-
missioners of the state land office March 31,
1876.
'"Bethauia," by v/hich it was known for
only about one week, however." Then
'■Lakefield" was substituted by the town
proprietor, and that was the name used
in making the dedication. So early as
the latter part of July the Colman Lumber
company and the Paul Lumber company
selected sites for lumber yards, and sev-
eral others made arrangements to build
and engage in business.
The first building erected was the of-
fice of the Colman Lumber companj,
which war^ put up in August. E. W.
Davies was the first local manager. This
first building was also used as the tele-
graph office until the depot was erected.
A few other buildings were started about
the same time, and before the close of the
year 1879 there were five or si.x business
houses in operation. The Paul Lumber
company had its sheds completed early in
September, and both companies had lum-
ber in stock to supply all the demands.
Lewis Chesterson and Charles Chesterson
opened a general store in September, which
they conducted under the firm name of
Chesterson Brothers. John Kilen put up
a building and engaged in the hotel busi-
ness. Bonner & Hyde built a warehouse
and engaged in the grain business. The
railroad company erected a depot. M. A.
Foss erected a store building late in the
fall, but did not open his general store
until the ne.\t spring. This concludes the
list of improvements for the year 1879,
and Lakefield did not assume metropolitan
proportions that year. John Davies, writ-
ing from the little town October 21, 1879,
said: "There are only two ladies in the
town to absorb the smiles of about twen-
ty bachelors."
The people of Lakefield petitioned for a
postofl'ice in the fall of 1879, and an of-
«"A change has come over the dreams of
Bethanians. It has been decided to call the
new town out west Lakefield." — Jackson Re-
public, August 16, 1879.
246
HISTORY OF JACKSON COQNTY.
fice was granted them the next spring.
It was opened in April witii M. A. Foss
as postmaster.' A few new husine.ss en-
terprises were started in 1880: M. A. Foss
opened his general store, Johnson & Ho-
henstein started tlio town's third general
store, Cargill & Van built the second grain
warehouse, Obed Omberson engaged in the
general merchandise and hardware l)usi-
ness, Barney Froelinger opened a saloon,
a blacksmith shop was started, and K. B.
Wood worth was installed as the depot
agent.
The growth of Knkfield during the lirst
three or four years was not groat, but each
year witnessed ihv ii|>(>ning of one or two
new business houses;, and the small growth
was healthy. Conrad & Snure engaged in
the general merchandise business in 1882,
and Larud. ^lorland i1- Company engaged
in the hardwari' liusiness the same year.
.\ninng tlcc other improvements of the
same year were the hay jiressing and tow
manufacturing establishments of M. A.
Foss. In IS83 X. J. Scott started a
liardware store, and the same year witness-
ed the founding of the town's first newspa-
per, the Minnesota Citizen by Carl S.
Kastwood. There were .several changes in
the proprietorship of the several stores and
shops, and we find the business houses on
•Mr. Foss sprvod as T iikedpld's postmaster
until March. 1.SS2. when he was succeeded by
ITenry Knudson. who moved down from Jack-
son Center. Mr. Knudson sold out his business
a short time later and resigned the office, be-
ing succeeded in July. l.SS2i by H. G. Conrad.
The latter served until Noveml)er, ISSH. when
K. Lewis received the appointment. There was
quite a contest for the honor In 1884. which was
won b.v Carl S. Eastwood, the editor of the
Minnesota Citizen, he receiving the appointment
In June. Mr. Kastwood sold his paper and re-
moved from I-akedeld In the latter part of
1885. and from that time until his successor
was named In February. ISSfi. the olTlce was In
charge of Deputy I.. \V. Seely. John G. Miller
succeeded Mr. Eastwood .as postmaster .-ind
served until January 17. 1S8S. On that date S.
J. Mop became T>ake(b'Id's postmaster, serving
until January. 1S90. Then W. I.. Funk was ap-
pointed and held the office until 1803. H. J.
Jlollister served from that lime until October.
ISfiT. under the democratic administration. John
Crawford was appointed at the expiration of
Mr. Holilster's term and held the office until
his death, which occurred by drowning in June.
1904. Mrs. John Cr.iwford was then appointed
and has ever since conducted the office.
Xoveniber 30, 1883, as represented in the
advertising columns of the first i.ssiie of
(he local paper, to be as follows:
(Jeneral stores— A. Hohenstein, K. Lewis,
William Snure. f). Oniborson.
Ilolel .J. U. Stone.
Implement dealer— John Krcilerickson.
Newspaper and real estate— Carl S. East-
wood.
IJver.v - A. Hohenstein.
Waeksmitlis— H. 1'. Pietz. T. A. .Sanders.
Harness simp— W. 11. Randall.
I>awyer and real estate—!.,. Walter Seely.
Hay press — Omberson Brotbers.
The general prosfiority which bles,<ed
Jackson county in 1884 brought rapid ad-
vancement to tlie little town of Lakeficld.
It was a season of solid and prosperous
growth. A resident of Jackson who visi-
lecl the village in July wrote as follows:
"A few hours spent by the writer in Lake-
field this week convinced him that Jack-
.'^on's sister village is up to the tiincj;.
Xiw buildings are going up, a large acre-
age of prairie turf is being reduced to a
state of cultivation near by, and prosperity
prevails. Within the past year Lakeficld
has seen a newspaper, a creamery, a hard-
ware store, a drug store and doctor 'spring
u]) in her midst.' "
Factors in the increased activity were
the [lurchase of the townsitc by James T.
Griffin and the platting of South Lake-
field by John Frederickson. These gentle-
men placed lots on (lie market at reduced
in-ices and induced men with capital to
locate and invest in the new town. The
Lakeficld Citizen boasted that more new
buildings were erected in Lakeficld that
yt^ir than in any otiicr town in the county,
and that the business interests and popu-
lation more than doubled in the twelve
months. Despite the ,«howing made, an
estimate of the town".- population in 1884
placi^d the figure at between seventy-five
and one hundred. A business directory
for 1884 listed the following business
houses in operation:
LAKEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
MAKING A COUNTY DITCH
\
J■S&cUSK^S
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
249
William Snure, general merchandise.
E. Lewis, general merchandise.
Obed Omberson, general merchandise.
Albert Hohenstein, general merchandise.
E. J. Viall, Viall hotel.
J. D. Stone, Lakefield hotel.
N. J. Scott, hardware store.
J. M. Strickler, drug store.
John Frederickson (Colman Lumber Co.),
lumber and machinery.
C. M. Tradcwell, agricultural implements.
Charles Randall, harness shop.
L. W. Seely, land agent.
Carl S. Eastwood, newspaper.
Robert Pietz. blacksmith shop.
Thomas Sanders, blacksmith shop.
Hiss Tilda Hamerstad. millinery store.
John Sr.rber, coal dealer.
Omberson Brothers, hay dealers.
G. A. Stanton, Lakefield nursery.
W. W. HefTelfinger, ]diysician.
John G. ililler, contractor.
S. Christenson, contractor.
B. .Johnson, contractor.
Lakefielcl's first confiagration occurred
February 12, 1884, when the depot with
all its contents was burned to the ground.
The progress in 1884 was onh' the be-
ginning of the forward movement in
Lakefield's history. During the later eigh-
ties every year was one of increase. In
1886 building improvements to the value
of $19,160 were made, the items of this
amount being as follows :
F. E. Wesner, residence $ 800
E. D. Briggs, improvements 1,100
A. M. Johnson, warehouse 300
Standard office 700
C. L. Colman, addition 725
Fred Nestrude, feed mill 425
A. W. Ward, residence 365
Julius Broeger, residence 400
John Lueiieburg, furniture store 1,100
Rhoda Pollock, residence 450
N. J. Scott, residence and barn 1,075
Jackson Countv Bank 1,800
E. J. Viall, barn 600
Burgess Jones, residence and coal house 1,150
Frank White, residence and barber shop 700
T. A. Sanders, residence and barn 500
William Britsch, residence 400
Ludwig Lueneburg, residence 775
C. M. Trade well, office and machine
shop 700
.J. H, Luse, hardware store 800
E. D. Briggs, improvements 175
H. P. Stone, addition 250
Matt Schram, addition 100
0. Omberson, addition 800
Minor improvements 2,000
Total $19,160
12
A census of Lakefield, taken July 14,
1887, showed a population of 260. It was
then the residents petitioned the board
of county commissioners for incorpora-
tion.* The county board took favorable
action on the petition July 25, 1887, when
it provided for holding a special election
September 1 to vote on the question of in-
corporation. The election was held in
the Lakefield school house," and "for in-
corporation" carried by a vote of 26 to
2." The first election for the selection
of village officers was held October 1, when
forty-five votes were cast. The council
elected at that time met and organized
October 21, and the municipal government
of Lakefield began on that day.^^ Fol-
lowing is a list of tliose who have been
elected to municipal office in Lakefield
from tlie date of incorporation to the pres-
ent time.'-
'The petitioners were L. J. Britsch. H. J.
HoUister. M. E. Lawton. N. J. Scott, Burgess
Jones, William Britsch. E. Lewis, W. W. Hef-
felflnger. S. Christiansen. Carl Omberson, Gust
Goplin. D. Crawford. R. A. MeUmber, C. O.
Tradewell, F. B. White. William Snure. T. A.
Sanders. H. P. Stone, Hans J. Hauge, S. J. Moe.
J. N. Edwards. John Hale, James Keenan. R.
H. Lueneburg. A. Hohenstein. A. Ellison, J. I.
Anderson. A. Norgrant. J. H. Luse, C. H.
Young, L. W. Crowl. E. J. Viall. Robert Pietz,
R. S. Luse, John Frederickson, F. E. Wesner,
W. A. Funk. W. L. Funk. F. W. Weeks. T.
Omberson, C. M. Tradewell.
■■■John Frederickson. John G. Miller and N. J.
Scott were the inspectors of the election and
F. W. Weeks was the clerk.
•John Frederickson, John G. Miller and N. J.
Scott, H. J. HoUister, W. W. Heftelflnger. W.
L. Funk. W. A. Funk, C. L. Bratager. Alfred
Ellison, Andrew Norgrant, John Miller. R. H.
Lueneburg, C. P. Carlson, M. E. Lawton, L. J.
Britsch. R. A. McUmber. C. H. Young. Burgess
Jones. John Frederickson. F. W. Weeks, Wil-
liam Snure. David Crawford. William Viall. R.
S. Luse, E. J. Viall. T. A. Sanders. Frank
White. August N. Goplin. S. J. Moe, Robert
Pietz.
"Lakefield remained a part of Heron Lake
and Hunter townships for assessment and elec-
tion purposes until 1SS9. On April 22 of that
year the legislature provided for its separation
tor all purposes.
'=At many of the annual village elections the
license question h.as been submitted to the vot-
ers. Following is the result In those years
when the question was submitted, the question
not having been voted upon in the years omit-
ted:
ISSS— For, 40: against. 19.
1889 — For license by 9 majority.
1890 — For. 51: against. 15.
1892— For, 53; against, 20.
1894 — For. 71; against, 20.
1895 — For, 67; against, 70.
1896 — For license by 26 majority.
250
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
1887— Prosident. W. A. Kiiiik;" trustees, N.
J. Scott. William Smirc. Hiirgcss Jones;" re-
corder, a. II. l,ui-iicbiir{.'; treasurer, Jolin Fred-
erickson: justices, K. Lewis, \V. L. Funk; con-
stables. K. Krickson. .John [. .Anderson.
1888— President, L. W. Crowl; trustees, F.
E. Wesner, E. J. \iall, W. \V. HeirelUnger; re-
corder, R. H. Lueneburg; treasurer, M. E.
Lawton; justices, E. Lewis, John G. Miller;
constables, R. P. Pietz, E. D. Sanders.
1889- President, IL J. liollister; trustees,
John Frederickson, .\els Olson, S. J. Moe; re-
corder, Frank White; treasurer, X. J. Scott;
justices, E. Lewis, John Ci. .Miller; constables,
II. P. Stone, R. P. Pictz.
18U0— President, Jolin Frederickson; trus-
tees, J. X. Co.\, (.-. .\1. Xiadewcll, Nels Olson;
recorder, Cieorge Sawyer; treasurer, M. J.
Scott; assessor, S. J. iloe; justices, John G.
Miller, O. 11. Spofford; constables, George Win-
ter, 11. P. Stone.
1801— President, John Frederickson; trus-
tees, M. 11. Evans, William Searles, Xels Ol-
son; recorder, R. li. Lueneburg; treasurer, N.
J. Scott; constables, George Winter, E. Erick-
son.
1892— President, L. W. Crowl; trustees, S.
D. Sumner, C. W. Gove, Joe Winter; recorder,
J. W. Calta;" treasurer, X. J. Scott; assessor,
E. J. Viall; justices, X. B. Spiceard, G. G. Saw-
yer; constable, R. P. Pietz.
1803— President, L. W. Crowl; trustees, W.
F. Timm, A. A. Fosness, F. E. Wesner; re-
corder, John Crawford; treasurer, John Fred-
erickson; assessor, A. Park; constables, S. J.
Moe, Ed Hanson.
18D4— President, X. J. Scott; trustees, W. F.
Timm, A. Xorgrant, F. B. White; recorder,
John Crawford; treasurer, John Frederickson;
assessor, D. Crawford; justices, John G. Miller,
George Sawyer; constable, James Kula.
18'J5— President, X. J. Scott; trustees, Wil-
liam Searles, Henry Winter, W. D. Hill; re-
corder, F. E. Wesner; treasurer, John Freder
ickson; assessor, J). Crawford; constable, L. M
White.
1896— President, N. J. Scott; trustees, Wil-
liam Searles, W. C. Bauer, N. P. Heintz; re-
corder, F. E. Wesner; treasurer, John Freder-
ickson: assessor, O. Crawford: justices, John «.
.Miller. Jar.?b Palmer: constable. .lames Kula.
1. S!I7— President, M. H. Evans: trustees, S.
I). Sumner, W. F. Timm. .T. E. McGill; recor-
der. 'J'homas Crawford; treasurer, John Fred-
erickson; assessor, F. B. White; constable, L.
-M. White.
1898- President, David Crawford; trustees,
A. U. Palmer, S. D. Sumner, E. Erickson; re-
corder, J. M. Thompson; treasurer. John Fred-
1S97— For. 77; against, 49.
1898— For. 99; against. 47.
1899— For. 106; ngalnst, 70.
1901— For. 105: against. 79.
1902— For. 120; against. 60.
1903— For, 128; against. 43.
"Resigned and M. E. Lawton appointed.
"Did not qualify; L. W. Crowl appointed.
"Did not qualify; H. J. Holllster appointed.
crick.son; as.sessor, S. J. Moe; justices, William
Crawford, Jarcb Palmer; constables, A. L.
Bachus, August Milbrath.
1899- President, Oavid Crawford; trustees,
X. J. .Scott. John Frederickson, J. E. McGill-
recorder, S. R. Dubetz: treasurer, William
Searles; assessor, S. J. Moe; constable, Henry
Wood.
1900— President, A. M. St. John: trustees, C.
M. Gage, Emil Erickson. W. F. Timm: recor-
der, G. W. Curtiss; treasurer, William Searles;
as.sessor. S. J. Moe; justices, M. liollister,
.Jareb Palmer; constables, J. L. Rakerd, .Mil-
ton Morse.
1901— President, A. M. St. John: trustees, C.
M. Tradewell, A. A. Fosness, August Olson:
recorder, Charles Xorgrant: treasurer. William
Searles: assessor. S. J. Moe.
1902— President. David Crawford; trustees,
II. J. liollister. A. A. Fosness. C. M. Gape; re-
corder, Charles Xorgrant : treasurer, F. L.
Leonard: justices, M. Hollister, John G. Mil-
ler: constables, J. L. Rakerd, George H. Win-
ter.
1903— President, David Crawford: trustees.
C. if. Gage, A. A. Fosness. James Rost : re-
corder, Charles Xorgrant: treasurer, A. Bettin:
assessor. S. J. Moe: constable, F. L. Grannis.
1904— President, H. J. liollister: trustees,
James Rost, S. R. Dubetz, G. B. McMurtrie;
recorder, Charles Xorgrant: treasurer, Adolph
Bettin: assessor, S. J. Moe; justices. John G.
-Miller, Jareb Palmer; constable. Albert Rue.
190.5- President, D. L. Riley; trustees,
George Winzenburg, J. C. Caldwell, James
Rost; recorder, Ed Arnold; treasurer, Adolph
Bettin; assessor, S. J. Moe: justice, Henry
Wood: constables, Ed Collins, II. G. Latourell."
1906— President, J. W. Daubney: trustees,
George Wood, f^orge Britsoh, John Anderson;
recorder, W. I. Alcott: treasurer. Adolph Bet-
tin; assessor, S. J. Moc; justices, John G. Mil-
ler, Jareb Palmer; constables, Ed Collins,
George Milburn.
1907— President. A. M. St. John; trustees,
-M. Mctilin. James Rost, H. L. Bond: recorder,
W. I. Aloott: treasurer, Adolph Bettin: asses-
sor, S. J. Moe; constables, Charles Blankcn-
burg, Henry Tank.
1908— President. M. McGlin; trustees, J. A.
Anderson. .J. J. Jones, John Grcin: recorder,
Ed .\riiold: treasurer. Adolph Bettin: asses-
sor. S. J. Moe; justices. John G. Miller. Jareb
Palmer; constables, J. B. Wagner, G. R. Van-
Dyke.
1909- President. M. McGlin; trnstees, John
Grein, J. M. Putman, William Hecht: recor-
der, Ole Thorcson: treasurer, Adolph Bettin;
assessor, S. J. Moe: constables, Charles Blan-
kenbnrg, IL A. Rost.
Lakefield continued' its forward move-
ment until the panic year 1R93. During
these years it advanced from the little
hamlet of pioneer days to one of the im-
portant towns of Jackson county. The
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
251
year 1895 was one of exceptional progi-ess.
Many new buildings were erected and sev-
eral new enterprises were put under way,
principal anumg them being the flouring
mill. Tlie panic put a temporary stop
to the progress of the town, and for a few
years there was little advance. The popu-
lation in 1895 was 519.
Beginning with 1896 came improved
conditions, and the town once more took
up its forward march, entering upon the
most prosperous era in its history. The
building improvements in 1896 amounted
to nearly $.50,000, and the ne.xt year they
exceeded that amount, the items of im-
provement for 1897, being as follows:
High school building $23,000
Norwegian Lutheran i-hurch 1,800
E. Schumacher, brick Ijuihling 2,000
St. John Brothers, elevator 3,000
Leonard & Company, furniture store... 1,700
Pietz & White, livery barn 1,200
M. E. church, addition 800
M. E. churcli, parsonage 1,500
L. L. Stewart, residence 1,300
C. M. f^ge, residence 1,800
D. L. Riley, residence 2,000
Thomas Crawford, residence 1,200
0. Orleski, residence GOO
H. .T. Hollister. residence 600
E. T. Smith, residence 1,200
A. E. Skillingstad, residence 800
John Milbrath, residence 700
S. D. Sumner, residence 600
Fred Bergman, residence 2,000
Milton Morse, residence 1,200
V. McColm, residence 500
F. B. White, residence 1,300
J. F. Montman, residence 1,400
Mrs. S. H. Beall, residence 1,800
Henry Wood, residence 1,200
A. J. Johnson, residence 500
W. F. Timm, residence 1,200
L. N. Duchaine, office and residence.... 300
August Olson, addition 200
William Host, addition 200
George G. Johnson, machine shed 500
C. L. Colman, addition 300
Lakefield village 600
Sidewalks 600
Total $59,600
Again in 1898 the residents of the vil-
lage spent large sums in erecting new
homes and business houses. In 1899 the
total amount so expended was nearly $70,-
000, divided as follows :
Citizens State Bank, building $ 8,507
L. J. Britsch, business block 4,800
N. J. Scott, business block 4,800
Frederickson & Gage, business block. . . . 3,.500
Baptist church 1,800
John (jrussing, residence 800
P. E. Olson, residence 1,500
H. A. Rhodes, meat market 800
John Wefel, residence 1,400
A. E. Norgrant, residence 1,200
H. Schultz, residence 800
A. E. Guertien, residence 1,300
Eugene Bedient, residence 800
Rev. D. Swanson, residence 1,200
J. N. Bradley, residence 1,600
Norwegian Lutheran church 2,500
Ole Sandager, residence 1,800
Henry Timm, residence 1,500
J. K. Turner, residence 1,800
Laketield Village, electric light plant.. 10,500
Joe Winter, residence 1,200
W. F. Timm, residence 1,500
D. Timm, residence 1,500
J. Kalash, residence 1,200
Henry Rost, residence 1,500
Mrs. J. B. McClintock, residence 1,000
Globe Milling Co., addition 500
S. R. Dubetz, addition 400
William Lochner, residence 1,500
William Bertels, residence 600
M. Sandager, barn 200
A. Hagerson, addition 500
Albert Rue, residence 1,000
L. Lueneburg, addition 500
Julia Johnson, residence 600
C. L. Colman, addition 200
George Britsch, improvements 300
A. Hohenstein, improvements 400
German Lutheran parsonage 1,500
Total $69,267
In May, 1899, by a vote of 96 to 44, the
electors declared in favor of bonding for
the installation of an electric lighting and
water works plant. The electric lighting
plant was installed, and the lights turned
on for the first time in January, 1900.
The water works system was added in
1902. The population of Lakefield, ac-
cording to the federal census of 1900, was
8G2.
At two o'clock on the morning of De-
cember 1, 1900, a fire was started that
did considerable damage and threatened
the destruction of the town. The town
liad no fire department, and the flames
were fought with bucket brigades. After
lieroic work the conflagration was sub-
dued. The losses were as follows :
2y2 HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Lakefield Mercantile Compuny (S. R. meet till' (Iciiiniids, a special election was
Diilietz. XIaiirt<'er). stock $14,000 . ,, , . , ,oi>,> i i ii
E. Schumacher, siori- building 4,000 '"eW f''"l> I" -'une- 18S)6, to vote on tlie
K. Schuniiuhcr, saliMiii liuildin^' nnd stock 1,000 questioii of issuing $20,000 bonds for the
Jacob Kalf, saloon buildiiiL' and stock.. 350 . ,. i i i- mi i
A. Uoass, tailor shop. ... 600 ^Tectioii ol a new building. 1 he vote was
"2 in favor of tiic bonJs to (j9 against, but
Total loss $19,950 ., . , , .i • i • -i. a
as it required a (v.o-thirds majority to
Again on July 25, 1904, fire visited the carry the proposition it was lost. On June
town, destroying the building occupied by 2'>, 189(5, the question was again subinit-
Otto Brothers, general monluints, and ted, and this time it carried by a vote of
an $18,000 stock of goods. -^liT to 48. The contract for the erection
THK scaiooLS "^ *'^^ "^^^' '^"'''''"S ^^"* 1^' August 15,
. , ,, . ' ' . ., ' T , n , . I'^OC, to Fred Norlander, of St. Paul, at
In till' fall ot 1881, wliile Lakefield was . , . ,*,.,.„. hm i c
' ., , .^ 3 a contract price of $lo,()2.'). The work of
vet in its infancy, Messrs. John Fredcr- , ^. , ■ . i ,>..n~
■" ,, . „ T , ,-, construction was begun in April, ls9i,
ickson, Anders Roe. M. A. loss, John d. , ,, i -n- i v . i x-
,, and the new building was dedicated iSo-
.Millcr and Ole Anderson called a meeting , ^^ ,„,_ , , , ,„,,,,
, , viMiilior 19. 1897. In .August, 1900. a
for t lie purpose nl taking steps towards the ,. , , , ,, ,
' ' , . . _ , high school cour.se was added,
organization of a school district at Lake-
field. Their efforts were successful, and the cm kciies.
that same fall school district No. 38 was Lakefield supports seven church organ-
organized. Among the first members of ^.-itions, one to each 131 inhabitants. They
the school board were M. A. Foss, John .,j,p_ j^ ^be order of their organization:
Frederickson and John G. Miller. A one- Swedish ]>utheran, Presbyterian, Jletho-
room school house, 24x36 feet, was erected ^y^^^^ German Lutheran, Norwegian Lu-
and Lakefield's first school was taught ,]„,,..,„. Norwegian Lutlieran. Raj.tist and
during the winter of 1881-82 by Miss War- ('.itholic. All liave clnirch edifices. During
ner, only a few pupils being in atten- ^^^^ fl,.g(. ^^^ yg^^g ^f j^s e.xistence Lakefield
dance.'" The little one-room building ^..^^ witjinut" a church building, although
served as Lakefield's school building until ,.eiigious services were fixHiueiitly licld in
1890, when a two-story, four-room build- (he "school house.
ill" was put up, which was used until tlie rpv /> i. i- • ■ i i. t ^t
" ' " The first religious societv to perfect
handsoine brick structure now in u.se was ... ■ t i c ii " no ^
an organization in Lakefield was the bweil-
'^^^^ ^ ' . , . ish Lutheran, which was organized un-
Tbo district wa.? rcor;;anized as an in- , n i- i- i- r> a n i? „ „ f
'^ .,11 '''■'' "'"' direction ol Rev. S. C. Iranzen, of
dependent district at a school meeting held ,,. ,, . , .>- , „ oo ioq~ t^ «.„,
' " \\ orthington, November 2.i. 1887. It wa.s
April 20, 1895, the change being made bv i ■ i i . . ■ ^i t- „ „f „ i „„„i,
' ' ' e> b . decided to begin the erection of a church
a vote of 67 to 6. On May 3 the following ^^^.^^^ ^,^^ ^^^^ ^^^.^^^ ,^^^^ .^ ^^.^ .^ ^^^^,^
were chosen as the first school board under ^^^^^ ,^^f^^.^ Lakefield's first church build-
the new organization: D. L. Rilev, chair- 11*1
" .... ing was dedicated,
man: F. E. Wesner. clerk: \\ illiam , ,. , , r, , , ,„„,^
„ , , 4 \ 17 T 1 About (ho first of September, 1890, a
Searles, treasurer; A. A. Fosncss, John . , , , ^ ,, <■ i-
„ , . , T 1 /^ -nr-ii meeting was held for the purpose of dis-
Fre<lerickson, John G. Miller. . " , . ,. ' ' „ ,. 1
~, n , -IT • -1 i i.„ cussing the organization of an Lnglish
The old building proving inadequate to p f . , , „ , , . ^
speaking church in Lakeheld. A vote
"Other early day terichers of the l-nkencld i,p|„n. »«!;„« if „.«, found the sentiment
.school were I.. Wniter Sceiy. Dora M. niiid. "eing laKcn, 11 was louno me seuiimcui
Julln Stone. Jarcb Palmer. John G. Miller, Miss nlniost imnnimOlIS in favOF of a PfCS-
Standwlck. Julia Hammer.stoek. Will Marou.-ie. " ''•* aimosl unanimous in ia\or 01 a 1 ira
Warren Funk. Elmer Best. Maria J. Schrelncr hyterian cliurch. A requcst for the OT-
and Laura Cooper. -" '
LAKEFIELD'S CHURCHES
THE MLW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
»«TOH, LEKOX »H0
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
253
ganization of a church of tliat faith was
signed by nineteen persons who declared
their desire to nnite with such a church.
About thirty other people signed an agree-
ment to aid a Presbyterian church with
their moral and financial support and to
identify themselves with a society connec-
ted with the church. The state organiza-
tion was conferred with, and on November
7, 1890, the Presbyterian church was for-
mally organized by Eev. E. N. Adams,
assisted by Eev. H. C. Cheadle and K. F.
Sulzer. Tlie follo\ving members were ad-
mitted by letter on the day of organization :
Mrs. Sailie H. Beall, W. A. Funk, Mrs.
Nettie L. Funk, Mrs. Hattie Evans, Emil
Erickson, Mrs. A. Erickson, Hart N.
Douglas. W. A. Funk was ordained el-
der. The first election of trustees was
held November 11, IS'JO, the meeting be-
ing presided over by M. H. Evans, with
W. A. Funk as secretary. The board of
trustees chosen at that time was composed
of Emil Erickson, Hart N. Douglas and
M. H. Evans.
Funds were raised by subscription, and
on January SI, 1S91, the following build-
ing committee was appointed to superin-
tend the erection of a church edifice: N.
J. Scott, M. H. Evans and Emil Erick-
son. Building operations were begun in
June and the building was completed in
October, the total cost, with furnishings,
being $1,880. The dedication of the
house of worship occurred February 38,
1892, conducted by Eev. N. H. Bell, of
Minneapolis, assisted by Eev. H. C. Chea-
dle, of Blue Earth City.
Following are the names of the pastors
who have supplied the Presbyterian pulpit
at Lakefield with the dates of their minis-
try : H. C. Cheadle, November 7, 1S90, to
December, 1894; Hugh Alexander, 1894-
95; M. B. Myers, 1895-96; J. F. Mont-
man, 1890-98 ; 0. G. Dale, 1898-99 ; C. C.
HofEmeister, 1899-03; S. E. P. White,
1903-05; J. S. P. Pinney, 1907-08.
The next church organized in Lakefield
was the Methodist Episcopal, which erec-
ted a church building in 1892. The build-
ing was dedicated May 28, 1893, the ser-
vices being conducted by Presiding Elder
Hare, of Manlvato. The building was
dedicated free of debt.
The German Evangelical Lutheran so-
ciety was organized during the nineties,
and the church building was erected dur-
ing the summer of 1896. It was dedicated
September 27, 1896.
Another religious organization that
came into existence in the nineties was
the Norwegian Lutheran church. For sev-
eral years the members worshipped in the
other church edifices, but in October, 1897,
the contract was let for the erection of a
building at a cost, excluding furnishings
and heating plant, of $1,300. The build-
ing was destroyed by a cyclone in August,
1898, but it was rebuilt in 1899 at a cost
of $3,500.
The Baptist church society wa.s organ-
ized May 11, 1S9S, with the following
cluirter members: Mr. and Mrs. Milton
Meltchert, Mr. and :Mrs. James Kilen, Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. Wil-
liam Taylor, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Palmer,
Mrs. Frederickson, Mrs. Z. M. Turner,
Eev. and Mrs. George MacDougall. In
September, 1898, the call of recognition
and ordination was issued, and in June,
1899, the church was admitted to the
Minnesota Valley association. For a year
services were held in the council room of
the city hall; then in March, 1899, it was
decided to erect a liouse of worship. The
l)uilding was erected that summer and was
dedicated October 22. The cost of the
building was $1,620.50. The following
have served as pastors of the Baptist
church of Lakefield: George MacDougall,
1898-00; F. C. Peck, 1900-03; Charles
254
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Walsh, 1902-03; Rev. Pengally, 1903-04.
Owing to the removal of so many of the
members, church services are not new
held, although tiie Sunday school is still
maintained.
The Catholic cluncli was the last to
organize in Lakefield. So early as August,
1898, steps were taken to bring about the
erection of a house of worship, Messrs.
Hugli Gallagher, Albert Vancura aiul Jo-
seph Cirhan being appointed a committee
to solicit funds. Services were held in
the city hall for several years, and in the
spring of 1902 the church edifice, costing
$2.50n, was completed. It was dedicated by
Right Kev. Bishop Joseph B. Cotter, of
Winona, September 26, 1902.
Tin: i.ODOES.
Tn the matter of secret societies Lake-
field is well represerted. The following
societies maintain organizations: Odd Fel-
lows, Rebekalis. Workmen, Modern Wood-
men, Royal Neighbors, Maccabees, Modern
Brotherhood, Masons and Eastern Star.
Lakefield Lodge No. 178, Independent
Order Odd Fellows, was organized Feb-
ruary 19, 1891, with twenty members. A
prosperous Rebekah lodge is also nuiin-
tained, it having been organized July 19,
190.", with 20 members.
Lincoln Lodge ^o. Kii, Ancient Order
United Workmen, was organized March 9,
189;?, hv Deputy (irand Master Workman
0. H. Mason with the following first of-
ficers and charter members: W. A. Funk,
P. W. M. ; N. J. Scott, M. W. ; John Fred-
orick.son, foreman ; A. A. Fosness, overseer ;
C. W. Gove, recorder; CM. Tradewell.
receiver; A. Park, financier; Joe Winter,
uuide ; N. B. Spieeavd, I. W. ; E. E. Col-
lins. 0. W. ; A. Bedient, S. M. Child, Sam
Fader, C. M. Cage, W. \. Ludtke, IL K
l?ue, Scott Searles. Fred Winter, Calvin
Young. The first trustees were C. M.
Gage, Fred Winter and 11. K. Hue.
Prairie Camp No. 1970, Modern Wood-
men of America, wa.' organized May 13,
189;?, with the following first officers and
charter members: Jlrs. F. J. Ledbrook.
JL White, advisor; Henry Winter, bank-
er; Thomas Crawford, clerk; C. TI.
Young, watchman; R. Willing, escort ;^L
C. Bcdient, sentry; Scott Searles, phy-
sician; N. J. Scott, M. R. Clu.ss and C.
M. Tradewell, managers; W. V. Bout-
well, .loliii Crawford, A. E. Ilolmberg,
Eriek Kilen, W. F. Ludtke, A. Phelps, H.
A. Rhodes, William Searles, A. J. Solo-
monson, G. G. Sawyer. The camp has a
present membership of 10(1 with the fol-
lowing officers: S. J. Moe, consul; Wil-
liam Bertels, advisor; J. A. Mansfield,
banker; A. Dahl. clerk; H. Sucker, es-
cort : J. B. McMurtrie, sentry ; George
Sfeiner. watchman; William Taylor, Mike
]\IcGlin and C. ]M. Tradew^ell, managers.
Piairio Lilly Camp No. 808. Royal
Xeiglibors. was organized November 2fi,
1897, with the following first officers and
charter members: S. J. Aloe, consul; L.
"racle; Mrs. Calvin Young, vice oraelo-.
Mrs. .T. T. Johnson, recorder; Mrs. .T. M.
Thompson, receiver; Airs. C. V. Trade-
well, chancelor ; Airs. George Sawver.
marshal; Mrs. J. E. McGill. inner
sentinel ; Mrs. IT. J. Hollister, outer sen-
tinel ; D. F. Ledbrook, diysician ; Mrs.
Frank White, Mrs. Albert Nieman and
J. E. McGill, managers; J. T. Johnson, IT.
J. Hollister. George G. SSawyer. J. M.
'riioiiiiisnn. C. M. Tradewell, William
Searles. Thomas Crawford, Mrs. Thomas
Crawford, Mrs. Fred White. Only three
of tiie charter members are residents of
Lakefield at the present writing.
Lakefield Tent No. 4A, Knights of the
Maccabees, was organized August 1.5, 1901.
Iiy State Commander I. N. Chellew. Fol
lowing were the first officers and charter
memi)ers: Charles M. Tradewell, past
commander; Robert 11. Lueneburg, Sir
HISTOKY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
255
Knight Commander; William Kerr, lieu-
tenant; S. E. Dubetz, record keeper; James
W. Daubney, finance keeper; Joseph Cir-
han, chaplain ; Orma E. Nevitt, physician ;
Edward S. Lader. sergeant; Charles E.
Cooper, master at arms; Otto Weise, first
master of guard; Fred H. Healey, second
master of guard ; Henry W. Eost, sentinel ;
F. E. Peffer, picket; James W. Daubney,
A. E. Dubetz and E. H. Lueneburg, trus-
tees; F. W. Weise, Martin J. Frederick-
son.
The Masonic order was organized in
1902, was conducted under dispensation
one year, and received its charter March
26, 1903. There were twenty-six char-
ter members. Following were the first
officers: F. L. Leonard, W. M. ; W. E.
Haukey, S. W.; E. A. Gage, J. W.; D.
L. Eiley, treasurer ; W. D. Hill, secretary ;
Ed. Arnold, S. D. ; M. M. Moore, J. D.;
B. W. Payne, S. S. ; Hoken Eamsborg, J.
S. ; A. A. Fosness, chaplain ; S. D. Sum-
mer, tvler. An eastern Star lodge is also
maintained.
THE BANES.
Two banking institutions are conducted
in Lakefield. They are the Jackson Coun-
ty State Bank and the First National
Bank. The town's banking history an-
tedates the founding of either of these in-
stitutions, however, by several years. The
Jackson County Bank, a private institu-
tion, was the first to open its doors. It
began business September 8, 1886, with
the following officers: J. S. VanWinkle,
president ; T. F. Barbee, vice president ;
M. E. Lawton. cashier. Mr. Lawton was
in charge of the bank and conducted it
until April, 1889, when it went out of
business. In August, 1889, the Bank of
Lakefield was opened by Graves, McClin-
tock & Company, with Wyatt H. Graves in
charge. It did not have the confidence
of the people, and its life was short.
The first permanent banking institution
organized was the Jackson County Bank
(succeeded by the Jackson County State
Bank), which opened its doors September
2, 1890, with subscribed and pledged capi-
tal of $50,000. The officers and board of
directors consisted of the following named
gentlemen : A. L. Ward, president ; H. J.
Hollister, vice president; M. H. Evans,
cashier; E. Sevatson, N. J. Scott, John
Frederickson, James Kilen. The incor-
porators and stockholders were W. A.
Funk, David Crawford, C. M. Tradewell,
N. J. Scott, H. J. Hollister, James Kilen,
Calvin Young, -James Kula, John Freder-
ickson, A. E. Kilen, L. J. Britsch, E.
Sevatson, A. L. Ward and M. H. Evans.
The Jackson County Bank was conduc-
ted as a private institution until May 8,
1893, when it was reorganized as the
Jackson County State Bank, with a paid
up capital of $25,000. The officers and
board of directors under the new organi-
zation were A. L. Ward, president; N. J.
Scott, vice president; M. H. Evans, cash-
ier; David Crawford, H. J. Hollister, Cal-
vin Young and John Frederickson. There
was a change in management in May,
1895, when the following officers and di-
rectors were chosen : N. J. Scott, presi«
dent; Calvin Young, vice president; M.
H. Evans, cashier; F. L. Leonard,
assistant cashier ; John Frederickson,
David Crawford, D. L. Eiley, William
Searles. The handsome brick building,
which is still the home of the bank, was
erected in 1896.
In July, 1901, Messrs. J. M. Putman
and H. L. Bond bought the majority
stock of the bank from M. H. Evans and
have since had the active management.
The present officers are J. M. Putman,
president; A. A. Fosness, vice president;
H. L. Bond, cashier; J. G. Branch, as-
sistant ca.«hier. That the business of this
financial institution is increasing is shown
by the fact that in 1901 the deposits were
25e
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
$133,000, while according to the state-
ment of February 5, 1909, they were
$229,193.08.
The Citizens State Bank (succeeded
by the First National Bank) was organ-
ized May 30, 1899, witli a paid up capital
of $26,000 and with the following officers
and directors: F. W. Thompson, presi-
dent; J. W. Daubney, ea.shier; N. J.
Scott, H. J. HoUistor, Scott Searle-s B.
Bear and C. J. Weiser. The Citizens
State Bank was the name of the institu-
timi until Januarv. 1903. when it was re-
organized as the First National Bank of
I^jikefield. January 17, 1907, J. C. Cald-
well was made president and P. W. Blan-
ker! cashier, the latter being succeeded
by A. .T. Nestrud a year later. Through
the efforts of the president most of the
stock passed into the hands of farmers re-
siding in the vicinity of Lakefield, so that
it is now practically a farmers' l)ank.
From the date of Mr. ('aid well's aciejit-
ing the presidency, the deposits have in-
creased from $180,000 to about $250,-
000.
*«T0. U^^ *M0
T«.aEN Foo.vn^.
lo.^
MAIN STREET, HERON LAKE
llEKiiN LAKE. WINTER VF IW^-W
CHAPTER XX.
HEKON LAKE— 1871-1910.
HERON Lake, an incorporated vil-
lage of about 1,000 inhabitants
(898, according to the 1905 cen-
sus), is the second oldest town in the
county. It is in the northwestern part
of the county, in Weimer township, not
far from the foot of the lake after which
it is named. It is on the main line of
the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis &
Omaha railroad and is the terminus of the
Black Hills branch of that line. As a
railroad point Heron Lake surpasses
every other town in Jackson county. The
village is surrounded by a very fertile
farming country, and it has always been
a prosperous municipality.
While the country along the Des Moines
river in Jackson county was settled in
a very early day, the prairie country re-
mained unsettled until long afterward. In
fact, only a few had builded homes in
that part of the county surrounding the
future village of Heron Lake until a year
or two l)ef ore the town was founded.
When, in 1870, there was great activity in
railway circles and it was rumored that the
St. Paul & Sioux City road would extend
its line through southwestern Minnesota,
passing just to the north of Heron lake,
some far sighted people began to locate
homesteads in the prairie country about
Heron lake. Said the Jackson Republic
of April 2, 1870 : "At Heron lake, in the
northwest corner of the county, there is
quite a settlement; the prospect of the
early completion of the St. Paul & Sioux
City railroad and the possibility that it
will pass in this vicinity have called here
a good number of settlers."
The track of the Sioux City & St. Paul
railroad was not laid through Jackson
county until the fall of 1871. but in the
spring of that year the route was selected
and sites for stations chosen. It was ap-
parently the first intention of the com-
pany to locate the principal town on sec-
tion 9, Alba township, which was to be
called Sibley. The first mention the press
makes of this site was on June 10. A little
later the Heron Lake site was chosen and
the intention of establishing the Sibley
station was given up.^ The Heron Lake
site was selected late in June,= but nothing
was done toward platting or building a
town there until a short time before the
tracklaying was completed in the fall.
The roadbed was gi-aded to the site in
'■■.\t Siblev. the new railway town on section
9 township 10,3. range 3S, we learn a store has
been built and filled with a stock of goods. Thus
is the 'wilderness made to blossom as the
rose.' " — Jackson Republic, July 29, 1871.
="West of Heron lake, three miles, another
station has been located, and from here it is
expected will be accommodated the Graham
Lakes community, and the large settlements
that are now, and destined to be, made west
and northwest will make an important town
here." — Jackson Republic, July 1, 1871,
257
258
HISTOBY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
September, and surveyors appeared late in
that month to survey tlie townsite, al-
though the plat was not put on record
until the next spring. The town was sur-
veyed by Alex L. Beach and the dedica-
tion was made by the Sioux City & St.
Paul Railway company, by Elias F. Drake,
it.'! president. The dedication was made
April 22, 1872, the original plat consist-
ing of eleven blocks.'' It was located on
.■section 19. Weiiucr townsliip, which was
included in tlie land grant to the Sioux
City & St. Paul Railroad company.*
While the surveyors were yet dividing
the land into blocks and lots and before
the railroad was completed to the pros-
pective town, in the month of October,
the first inhabitants came. They were
John T. Smith and C. H. Carroll, who
had been conducting a store at Big Bend,
in Cottonwood county, to which place it
had been believed the railroad would
build. The route having been changed
and Heron Lake selected as a site
for a town, Jfessrs. Smith and Car-
roll abandoned their location at Big Bend
and came to engage in business in the new
town. They found the site raw prairie
land, without a stick on it, and had to
burn a strip of prairie grass to get a
place to pile thoir lumber. Mr. Smith
bought a lot on ]\Iain street— the first
lot sold in (he new town — but had to
'Addition.s to Heron Lake have been platted
as follows:
First, by the S. C. & St. P. Rv. To. Julv 15.
ISSO; siirve.ved by John O. Brunlii.s.
Smith's, by John T. Smith Janiinrv 30. 1S94-
siirvcvert by I.. I,. Palmer.
Iirakes First, by Harry T. Drake. Alex M
Unikf and William H. LiKhtner. as executors
of the will of Ellas F. Drake. November 7
1S!I4; surveyed by Orrln Na.son.
Benson's, by John W. Benson August 31
1S95: surveyed by J. I,. Hoist.
Wood's, by riark A. Wood May 19. 1S9B; .siir-
veved by J. I,. Hoist.
Smiths Subdivision of Blocks 1. 10 and 11,
First .Addition, by John T. Smith May 4. 1897:
surveyed by Orrln Nason.
'The l)oundaries of Heron Lake now Include
the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter
of section .10. as well as the whole of section
19. Thai forty-acre tract was homcsti'aded hv
John T. Smith, who received his patent Decem-
ber 30, 1878.
wait for the surveyors to subdivide block
seven before he could locate his lot, which
was number fifteen. The partners haul-
ed hiniber from Mankato to start tlieir
store building, but before it was finished
the railroad was completed and luiiil)cr
was shipped in.
.\Imost simultaneously the three first
buildings were put up. These were the
general store of Smith & Carroll, tlie
drug store of Dr. R. R. "Foster, which
was located on lot fifteen of block seven,
and the depot, which occupied the present
location of the Heron I^ke depot. Only
two other business houses were started be-
fore tiie close of the year 1871. The lum-
ber yard of Crocker Brothers & Laiiior-
eaux, with J. A. Town as manager, was
opened for business early in November.
.\ little office building was erected, but
the lumber stock was piled in the open.
The other enterprise wa.« the Pioneer ho-
tel, which was built by John Robson on
the present site ■ of the Farmers State
Bank building and which was opened for
l>usiness late in the fall. The Heron
Tiake postoffice was established in Novem-
ber. John T. Smith was the pastmaster,
and he cojiducted the office in his store."
The village of Heron Lake had been
founded too late in the fall to make much
progress during 1871. and the four busi-
ness houses before nieniioned were the on-
ly enterprises started in the year of found-
ing. But in 1872, when train service was
e.i|ablished on the new road and the sur-
rounding country was rapidly settling
with new arrivals, the little village was
the scene of much activity. During the
summer months nearly every train
-John T. Smith served as postmaster from
November. 1871. to May. 1ST7. He wa.s suc-
ceeded by Dr. J. F. Force, who served several
years, GeorRe C Cooley was the next post-
master, holding the office \intll K. D. BrlgRs
took eharpe September I. ISS.'). Carl S. East-
wood was appointed in AuRust. 1889. served
several ye irs. and was succeeded by B. Pop-
pllz. C. A. Wood became postmaster In March.
1SS9. and served until Carl S. Eastwood was
appointed on his present term.
HISTOEY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
259
brought new comers to locate iipou the
fertile lands in the vicinity, and the town
grew in proportion. A correspondent to
one of the twin city papers, writing in
September, said: "This village, which
sprang into existence last fall, is rapidly
growing and becoming the center of trade
for a large tract of country. New build-
ings are constantly being erected, and the
place bids fair to be a town of consider-
able importance ere long."
Knute Thompson opened a small hard-
ware store — a branch for H. L. Parker,
of St. James— in the spring of 1873,
which was under the management of Mr.
Thompson for a time and later of ]\Ir.
Graves. The stock was bought by Smith
& Carroll in September. J. W. Benson
& Company erected a commodious two-
story building during the summer and
opened a general merchandise store in
September. Smith & Carroll built a four-
teen foot addition to their store to meet
the increasing demands of their trade and
erected tlie town's first warehouse, which
was ready to receive grain in September.
Pixley & Stone opened a saloon where
the First National Bank building now
stands in August, Mr. Pixley becoming
sole owner next month. Dr. Foster bought
the Pioneer house and made improve-
ments on it. Mr. Jones became the land-
lord. Ealph Town became the manager
of the Crocker Brothers & Lamoreaux lum-
ber yards. George Hubbs opened the
town's second lumber yard in November
and erected a residence. J. B. Pixley
opened a furniture store. H. J. Bosworth,
the station agent, took tlie agencv for
agricultural implements and vehicles and
put in a small stock. William Dahl built
a residence and ran a boarding house.
John Weir erected a building next to
John T. Smith's store late in the fall and
engaged in the hardware business. So far
as I am able to learn this completes the
list of jH'ivate impro\ements in the youth-
ful town during 1872. During the year a
mail route was established between Heron
Lake and Currie, by way of the Graham
Lakes country, which was in operation un-
til 1879. The citizens dug a public well
in the middle of Main street, which was
considered quite an improvement at tliat
early date. The fir.-t birth m the village
occurred in 1872, when a child was born
to Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Bosworth. Heron
Lake had a population of about fifty peo-
ple when it was one year of age.
The number engaged in business and
the population of the town during the
first year of its history does not convey
a trutliful idea of its importance as a
trading point. Its merchants drew trade
from an immense territory. For long
distances nortli and south Heron Lake was
the only railroad town, and retail trade
came there from countries now tributary
to Slayton, Avoca and Fulda, from half
way to Worthington, half way to Windom,
half way to Jackson, and for a time from
tlie Big Bend country. In addition to
having the retail trade of this large ter-
ritory, Heron Lake was the distributing
point for a much larger territory, much
of the goods sold to merchants of Jackson,
Spirit Lake, Iowa, and other interior
points coming by way of Heron Lake.
During the first two years of the town's
history its merchants did an immense bus-
iness and prospered.
Several new business houses were
founded in 1873. N. Dahl opened a sa-
loon in the hotel building. Mrs. Fremer
opened a photograph gallery. John Jung-
l)auer started a blacksmith shop in July.
Johnson & Dieson started the third gener-
al store in August. A directory of the
business houses in September, 1873, listed
the following:
.John T. Smith, general store.
J. W. Benson & Company, general store.
Johnson & Dieson, general store.
260
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
.lolin Weir, liardwaie.
R. U. Foster, drug and furniture store.
K. E. Town, lumber yard.
Mr. Larson, lumber vard.
.1. P. Prescott, hotel.'
.1. F. Koree, pliysician.
.T. H. Pi.vlcy, saloon.
Mr. .Johnson, shoe shoii.
As (lid tlio other towns of soutlnvestern
Minnesota during the terrible grasshop-
per scourge, Heron Lake suffered severely.
During tliese years — 1873-1878 — no prog-
ress was made : the town was at a stand-
still and tiie merchants lost their profits
of former years. In 1875 the population
was estimated at nearly 100, and the fol-
lowing lines of business were represented :
Three general stores, one hardware store,
two hotels, warehouse, photograph gal-
lery, shoe sho]), furniture store, macliin-
ery depot, two lumber yards, one fuel
yard.
The year 1879 marked the turning
point to better times. The disappear-
ani'o of the grasshoppers and the build-
ing of two new lines of railroad in the
vicinity were the causes of the return of
prosperity and advancement. The failure
of the Southern Jlinne.sota railroad to
cross the Siou.x City road at Heron Lake
was a disapixjintmcnt," but the building
of the Black Hills branch of the Sioux
City & St. Paul fioni Heron Lake to the
northwest more than offset this. While
the roads were building new settlers came
to locate upon lands along the new roads,
and the effect ujion the t<iwn was good.
"■•It has been suKTSestcd that should the South-
ern Minnesot.i railroad cross l>etween this plare
and Hersey 1 Brewster] the two towns
would be moved to the crossing. As for Her-
.sey we are not able to sav. but as for Heron
Lake, we think the idea absiu-d. and we are
quite sure It will not affect the town In the
least. It will cut i>IT but a small ami>unt of
the trade now tributary to this town, which will
be more than supplied by the Increase In sef-
tlemi'iit. The country surroundInK is fertile,
and We think this town will be sustained, and
whether the Southern Minnesota cros.ses here
or not this town will hold Its own at least and
will undoubtedly Increase In Importance."—
Heron Lake Correspondent. April 19, 1879.
A Heron Lake correspondent, writing in
November, 1879, said :
Twelve new buildings to represent nearly as
many departments of business are now in pro-
cess of construction. Never in the history of
this place have its merchants experienced "such
business activity as the past summer and
present fall. Week in ami week out since early
spring have they been taxed to their utmost
to procure help and stock to supply the im-
mense demand for merchandise.
During the last half of the year ISTO
nearly $2.5,000 were spent in building im-
provements, as follows:
Chapman & Drake, hotel building .* S.OOO
.T. T. Smith, hay pressing establishment ^.'tOO
.7. AV. Benson & Co., hay pressing es-
tablisliment 3.000
St. P. & S. C. Ry. Co., depot, engine
house, ete 3.500
IT. S. Oraves. hotel building 1. 000
•T. P. Prescott, residence 1.000
K. T). Prigtrs, residence and oflTiec 1.000
M. TTazelton, residence and -ihop 1.000
Mikelson. residence and barn 800
B. .J. Svennes. residence and shop 300
rjeorce Cope, residence 300
Catholic chtirch ,300
Sidewalks : 300
•T. F. Force, improvements ZaO
T,. C. Wood, improvements 2.50
T. A. Dieson. store IO.t
f!radinff streets 100
Iv. B. Foster, improvements 75
Total ft24.740
In 1880 a census of the town showed a
population of Ifi,"?. The building improve-
ments ke])t pace with the growth in pop-
ulation. It was reported in .Inly, 1880,
that twenty now buildings had been erec-
ted since spring opened. One of the most
important events in Heron Lake's historv-
occurred in the fall of 1881, when .Tolin
T. Smith l)uilt the first tow mill in the
state of Minnesota and established a busi-
ness which has added much to the town's
jirosperity. The main building was 84x
100 feet, and it was said to have been
the largest tow mill in the world.
.Vltbough their town was yet a mere
hamlet, the citizens of Heron Lake, in
the fall of 1881. asked the legislature for
a charter granting tliein municipal gov-
THE HERON LAKE SCHOOL HOUSE
DESTRUCTION OF THE OLD BUILDING
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC U3RARY
AtTOR, LCWOX AHt
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
261
ernuient. An act was approved Novem-
ber 17, 1881, providing for the incorpo-
ration of section 19, Weimer township/
and naming T. A. Dieson, C. A. Wood
and J. F. Force commissioners to conduct
the preliminaries. The first village elec-
tion was held January 3, 1882, and the
first village council met and organized
January 9.
Following is a list of all who have been
elected to village office from the date of
incorporation to the present time:'
1882— President, E. J. Graves; trustees, G.
H. Perry, John Weir, E. D. Briggs; recorder,
S. S. Haislett; treasurer, L. F. Lammers; jus-
tice, -J. E. .Tones; constable, B. J. Svennes.
1883— President, C. A. Wood; trustees, E. D.
Briggs, Ole SeJeen, J. W. Benson; recorder,
Jliles Hazelton; treasurer, L. F. Lammers.
1884— President, E. D. Briggs; trustees, B.
J. Svennes, A. J. McSehooler, W. S. Freer; re-
corder, T. A. Dieson: treasurer, L. F. Lam-
mers; justices," C. A. Wood, P. F. McNair;
constable, R. E. Dickens.
1885- President, E. D. Briggs; trustees, E.
J. Graves, A. J. McSliooler, A. A. Lommerland ;
recorder, T. A. Dieson; treasurer, L. F. Lam-
mers; constable, A. J. McShooler. Joseph
Knott.
1886— President, E. D. Briggs; trustees. E.
J. Graves, T. A. Jones, A. A. Lommerland; re-
corder, G. C. Cooley; treasurer, T. A. Dieson;
justices, C. R. J. Kellam, J. E. .Jones; con-
stable, J. F. Knott.
1887- President, T. A. .Jones; trustees, J. D.
Wilson, C. A. Wood," A. A. Lommerland; re-
'-■it a special election held June 27. 1899,
the corporate limits were increased by the ad-^
dition of Smith's addition- the northeast quar-
ter of the northeast quarter of section 30. The
vote was ten in favor of annexation to six
against.
'The license question has often been voted
upon at the annual village elections under the
local option law. With the exception of the
year 1SS3 license was granted during all the
early history of the town. Since 1893 the vote
has been as follows:
1893— For, 73; against, 55.
1894 — License carried.
1895 — License carried.
1896— For, 91; against. 69.
1897— For. 62; against, 73.
1898— For. 64; against, 104.
1899 — License carried by 36 majority.
1900 — License carried by G majority
1901— For. 135; against. 72.
1902— For, 111; against, 73.
1903 — Tie vote; license granted.
1904— For, 115; against, 92,
1905— For. 95; against. SO.
1906— Fo»i 96: against. 108.
1907— For, 84: against, 78.
1908— For, 123: against, 74.
1909 — Not an issue.
'At a special election in Ma.v, 1884, C. R. J,
Kellam and J. E. Jones were elected justices.
corder, C. S. Eastwood; treasurer, T. A. Die-
son, assessor, J. E. Jones; constable, W. S.
Freer.
1888— President, J. D. Wilson; trustees,
Henry Knudson, H. J. Arnold; John Trimble;
recorder, C. S. Eastwood; treasurer, T. A. Die-
son; justices, C. R. J. Kellam, J. E. Jones;
constables, W. S. Freer, !Mike Larson.
1889- President, J. D. Wilson; trustees,
Jienry Knudson, H. J. Arnold, John Trimble;
recorder, C. S. Eastwood; treasurer, T. A. Die-
son ; constable, W. S. Freer.
1890— President, J. D. Wilson; trustees, T.
A. Jones, Henry Knudson, H. J. Aronld: re-
c;order, C. S. Eastwood; treasurer, T. A. Die-
.son; justices, John E. Jones, Joseph J. .Jones;
constable. D. N. Miller, W. S. Freer.
1891— President, H. j. Arnold; trustees, T.
A. Jones, B. Poppitz, ^^'. J. Jones; recorder, C.
S. Eastwood; treasurer. T. A. Dieson; con-
stable, D. N. Miller.
1892 — President, Joseph J. Jones; trustees,
B. Poppitz, W. J. Jones, T. A. Jones; recorder,
Henry Knudson; treasurer, T. A. Dieson.
1893— President, Joseph J. Jones; trustees,
T. A. Jones, B. Poppitz, John McGlin; recor-
der, T. A. Alexander; treasurer, T. A. Dieson;
justice, John McCarvel; constable, John Nor-
ton, R. H. Kidney.
1894 — President, John L. Gessel; trustees, B.
P. St. John, J. F.' Humiston, W. N. Williams;
recorder, W. J. Jones;" treasurer, J. S. Kib-
bey; justice, G. C. Cooley; constables, C. A.
Wood, E. O. Auberg.
1895 — President, John McGlin; trustees, P.
D. McKellar, B. P. St. John. W. N. Williams;
recorder, F. A. Stenert; treasurer, C. H. Ca-
liot; justice, .John Woolstencroft.
1896 — President, John McGlin; trustees, Jos-
eph J. .Jones, .John McCarvel, B. B. Sontag; re-
corder, F. A. Steuert; treasurer, C. H. Cabot;
justice, C. R. J. Kellam; constables, W. E.
Spaulding, £. O. Auberg.
1897— President, D. Brown; trustees, J. F.
Humiston, G. A. Fairfield, B. B. Sontag; re-
corder, William J. .Jones; treasurer, C. H.
Cabot; justices, W. E. Spaulding; constable,
Elmer Spaulding.
1898— President. B. B. Sontag; trustees, B.
P. St. John, W. N. Williams, John McGlin; re-
corder, W. J. .Jones; treasurer, C. H. Cabot;
justices, G. A. Fairfield, W. H. Kessler; con-
stables, Elmer Spaulding, Erick Auberg.
1899— President, John McGlin; trustees, B.
P. St. .John, B. B. Sontag, Frank Humiston;
recorder, W. J. Jones; treasurer, Bruno Pop-
pitz; justices, W. H. Kessler, John Woolsten-
croft; constables, Fllmer Spaulding, E. 0. Au-
berg.
1900— President, J. J. Jones; trustees, B. B.
Sontag, B. P. St. .John, E. J. Grimes; recorder,
W. J. Jones; treasurer, B. Poppitz; assessor,
W. L. Callison; justice. C. R. J. Kellam; con-
stables, Mike Wood, Elmer Spaulding.
1901— President, B. P. St. John: trustees, B.
•"Resigned April 17, 1887; T. E. Hill appointed
April 19.
"F. A. Steuert appointed recorder February
19. 1895. W. J. Jones having left town.
262
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY
B. Soiitng, C. H. Caliot, V. K. Hansen; recor-
der, J. K. Koss; treasurer, 15. I'oppilz; justiee,
G. A. Fairfield.
1902— President, B. P. St. John; trustees, B.
B. Sontag, C. U. Cabot, William Bieter; re
corder, J. E. Foss; treasurer, C. A. Kobsoii;
assessor, W. L. Caliison; justico, C. R. J. Kel-
1am; constables, Jl. Jl. Wood, W. S. Freer.
1903— President, C. 11. Cabot; trustees, B.
P. St. John, William Bieter, B. B. Sontag; re-
corder, J. K. Foss; treasurer, C. A. Robson;
assessor, Frank Uumiston; justice, J. J. Jones;
constables, Peter MikUclson, E. F. Bartholo-
mnw.
1904 — President, \'. K. Butler; trustees, J.
J. Jones, E. J. tirinies, B. Poppitz; recorder,
F. J. Humiston; treasurer, J. F. Liepold; as-
sessor, Albert Dieson; justices, C. R. J. Kel-
Uim, C. S. Eastwood; constables, G. J. Alexan-
der, W. S. Freer.
1903 — President, L. F. Lammers; trustees,
John L. (iessell, 15. Poppitz, Joseph J. Jones;
recorder, Frank Humioton; treasurer, J. F.
Humiston; assessor, Chris Johnson; justice, C.
R. J. Kellani: constable. J. E. Rider.
190G — President, L. F. Lammers; trustees, 15.
B. Sontag, T. A. Behronfeld. S. H. Berkness;
recorder, J. W. Young: treasurer, C. A. Rob-
son; assessor. Chris Johnson; constables, W.
S. Freer, Elmer Spaulding.
1907 — President. L. F. Lammers; trustees, C.
H. Cabot, John Woolstencrnft. B. B. Sontag;
recorder, Fred Cooley; tieasurer. Albert Rob-
son; assessor, Chris .Johnson: justice. C. R. .1.
Kellam; constables, W. H. Myers, Max Hart-
neck.
1908— President, J. F. Liepold; trustees, A.
J. Moe. W. J. Ross, B. B. Sontag; recorder, F.
A. Cooley: treasurer. Albert Robson; assessor,
Chris Johnson; justice, John Woolstencroft;
constables. (!. J. Alexander, Ernest Rippon.
1909— President. J. F. Liepold: trustees, A.
J. Moe, B, B. Sontag, Will Drews: recorder, F.
A. Cooley; treasurer. Albert Rnhson; assessor.
Chris Johnson; justice, C. R. J. Kellam; con-
stables, F. .Jarmer, Max Hartneck.
The e.«tiiblis1imcut of the tow mill and
the prevailing prosperous times made the
year 1882 a memorable one in Heron
Lake's history. Said a writer who visited
the town in March: "We were consider-
ably surprised at the many evidences of
thrift, enterprise and go-aheadativeness
displayed in Heron Lake, and we doubt
if any town of like size in southern ^lin-
nesota can surpass or even equal the town
in these respects. Many new buildings
have made their appearance within the
past year and evidences of thriving trade
are plentiful," The building improve-
ments completed during the year amount-
ed to over $17,000 jhuI were itemized as
follows:
• I. \V. Benson & Co., creamery (includ-
ing fixtures) " $ 5,000
John T. Smith, fourteen tenement
houses 4,200
T. A. Dieson, residence 1,500
L. F. Lammers, residence .000
L. F. Lammers, millinery store 300
tJohn Robinson, residence 600
John Woolstencroft, billiard hall 850
.1. F. Force, store 1,500
Mrs. Nelson, residence 300
T. A. Dieson, tenement house 500
J. F. Force, tenement house 600
E. 1). Briggs, addition 200
Johnson &, Dieson, store improvements. 300
C. R. J. Kellam, drug store improve-
ments 200
J. T. Smith, improvements 200
P. McNair, residence 500
L. Readle, barn loii
N. Edbamer, barn K'li
J. E. Jones, improvements 200
Total $17,750
But the amount expended in improve-
ments gives little idea of the voluuio of
busine.«s done. Three thousand tons of
llax straw were marketed in the village,
manufactured into tow. and shipped to
tlio eastern markots, while four thous;ind
ton.- of )ny were baled and sliippeci. The
vohime of business done during the year
(not including professional business)
amounted to a quarter of a million dol-
lars, divided among the several firms as
follows:'''
John T. Smith, general merchandise.
baled tow, hay, etc $100,000
.T. W. Benson & Co.. general merchan-
dise, creamery, hay. etc tiO.Oiin
.Tohnson & Dieson, general merchandise 2(1,000
J. F. Force, drugs and general mer-
chandise 16,000
Hazelton & Frecmire, general mer-
chandise 6,000
C. R. J. Kellam. drugs, notions, etc. . . 2..500
E. J. Craves & Co., lumber 18,000
J. E. Jones, grain 2.000
J. S. Titus, saddlery 2.0(>(»
Wood & Freer, liverv 1,00(1
C. E. Marsh. Chapman hotel 6,000
C. A. Wood, Pioneer hotel 3,500
,Tohn Woolstencroft. billiard hall <. 5,000
C. O. Michelson, meat market 3,000
L. Sitzcr, meat market 2,500
"As prepared by a Heron I^kc resident In
December.
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY. 263
B. J. Svennes, shoe shop, boarding min and a hay barn, coal sheds, stock
T. A. Jones^ blacksmith shop.' '.'.'....'.'.'. 900 J^^d and oil house burned, entailing a loss
John Robson, blac-ksmitli shop 900 of $75,000, of which only $20,000 was re-
Total $249,300 covered in insurance. The fire was a fierce
one, and only the favorable direction of
During the entire decade of the eighties ^j^^ ^^.j^j ^^^^j ^j^^ ^^^^,^ ^^^^^ destruction.
Heron Lake prospered, as did the country g^^j^g ^f ^^g buildings on the north side
at large. There was no feverish boom, „f t^^ ^rack took fire from flying sparks,
but the growth was steady and of a sub- b,,^ th^ flames were extinguished before
stantial character— keeping pace witli the j^.^ggg resulted. The second disastrous
progress of the .surrounding country. In fi,^ occurred in October, 1904, when the
1884 the following were engaged in busi- ,0^3^, amounted to al)out $6.5,000. The
ness m Heron Lake : John T. Smith, gen- g^. John elevator, the Benson elevator and
era! merchandise and tow mill; J. W. ^^g Western Implement company's store-
Benson, general merchandise and cream- jj„„,g ,^.gi.g g^tirely destroyed with all
ery: Johnson & Dieson, general merchan- their contents. Eighty thousand bushels
dise; John Weir, hardware; Lammers & „f g^^ij, ^^j gj^^ggj, f,gight g.^^.^ ^^.g^e also
Wood, general merchandise; J. F. Force, i^urned
drug store; C. E. J. Kellam, drug store;
E. J. Graves, lumber and real estate; C. the schools.
E. Marsh, Chapman house; W. S. Freer, During the first year of its history Her-
Pioneer house; B. J. Svennes, La Crosse on Lake had only a private school. On
house; E. D. Briggs, attorney. December 17, 187?, a meeting of citizens
In 1885 the population of Heron Lake was held at John Weir's store to take steps
reached 280. That year there was some toward the organization of a district and
advance, the building improvements the building of a public school house. Eev.
amounting to $9,500. Comparative dull John Benson was chairman of the meeting
times prevailed in 1886, but the next year and John Dalziel was secretary. As &
the Heron Lake News reported the expen- result of this meeting the next session of
diture of $48,000 in new buildings in the the legislature passed a bill authorizing
village. The hard times period following the organization of an independent dis-
the panic of 1893 temporarily checked the trict at Heron Lake — the first independ-
growth of the town, but the recovery was out district in Jack.'ion county. The or-
quick, and we find that in 1895 the pop- ganization of the district was perfected in
ulation had increased to 646. During the March, 1873, when the following named
next five years there was another increase, gentlemen were elected as the first board
the census of 1900 giving the town a pop- of education : E. C. Sanders, George
ulation of 928. There has been but little Hubbs, A. McSchooler, Ralph Town, John
increase since that census, but in a busi- Weir and Zebulon Judd.
ness way Heron Lake has prospered and A school election was held at Jones'
today ranks as one of the most progressive hotel April 12, 1873, at which time a ma-
little cities of southern Minnesota. jority of the voters declared in favor of
In the history of the town there have bonding the district in the sum of $2,000
been two bad fires. The first of these to raise funds for the immediate construc-
occurred Tuesday afternoon, November tion of a school house. The bonds were
10, 1898, when the John T. Smith tow issued and a building erected, in which,
264
iTT^^Trnn' of .t atkron county.
liowc'ver, the B!)])tist cliurth soiicty Ima an
interest."
Jn the spring ol' 188G the district de-
cided to sell the nld school lioii.-;e to the
village and issue honds to the amount of
$3,000 for the purpose of erecting a suit-
able building on the lots donated by E.
F. Drake. At an election in June the bonds
were voted, C7 to 52. \ school building
costing about $5,000 was put up during
the suninier of 188?. It was used as a
public school house until 189G, w'hen it
was sold to the Catholic church society,
and it is now utilized, with additions, as
a parochial school building by that church.
By a vote of 258 to 59, at a special
election April 1, 1896, bonds to the
amount of $20,000 were voted for a new
school house. The contract for the erec-
tion of the building wa.s let May 19, 1896,
to J. D. Carroll on a bid of $18,-147, the
corner stone was laid with ceremonies
July 18, and it was dedicated in Novem-
ber. This handsome ])rick structure, one
of the finest public school buildings in
southwestern Minnesota, was totally de-
s.troyed by fire Decendier 31, 1901, to-
gether with about $5,000 worth of equip-
ment. It was insured for $18,300. There-
after for several months school was con-
ducted in the various cliurches, halls and
.=tore buildings. The school house w^as re-
built during the summer of 1002 and
was occujiied for the first time lato that
year.
THE CHURCHES.
Four cluirch societies maintain active
organizations in Heron T^ake, namely:
Methodist Episcopal, Catholic, Salem Lu-
tiieran and Norwegian Lutheran. Several
other church societies have been formed
""The Baptist church Is all enclosed and Is
a fine bulldlnR. It Is to be used as a school
house for three venrs. when It will become ex-
chislvelv a church. All denomlnntions will wor-
ship In' It for the present. thouRh It Is controll-
ed by the Baptist society."— Heron Lake Cor-
respondent, July 9, 1873.
at diU'ereiil times in the town's history,
but aiv now dormant. Very soon after tiie
founding of the village the residents took
steps to secure religious worship, and in
tiie summer of 1872 some money was
raised to help build a church, but it was
the next year before a house of worship
was erected.
The oldest church organization is the
.Methodist l'>i)iscopal. Services were held
as early as 1872, conductetl by Rev. W.
yi. Bear, but it was not until June 9,
1873, that an organization was perfected.
On that date, Presiding Elder G. W. T.
Wright appointed as trustees Rev. J. Ben-
son, P. M. Jones, J. F. Force, (i. H.
liublis and John T. Smith, ''they to be a
body corporate under the name and style
the First Methodist Episcopal church of
Heron Lake." .\mong the charter mem-
hers were C. A. Wood, Lucinda Wood, J.
T. Smith, Sarah J. Smith, J. F. Force,
Sarah J. Force, J. Benson, Mrs. J. Ben-
son, David W. Edwards. Martha Edwards,
Sarah (iibbs, Elizabeth Parish, Mrs.
Rupert, George Aldrich, V. G. Mott,
Edward Rodgers, ^Martha iL Rodger?, Eli
11. Bowman and EIroda Bowman.
For several years the society worship-
ped in the Baptist church building, which
was the first erected in the town. Through
the efforts of Rev. H. S. Eldied and oth-
ers, $1,000 toward the erection o( a church
edifice had been raised in January, 1SS(>.
One-half of this was secured by sub-
scription, the balance from the church ex-
tension society. In June, 1S87, the build-
ing was completed, and the Methodists
liad a hnme of their own. .V jiarsonage
was erected in 1895. The old church
Uuililing answered the purposes until 1902.
when it was replaced by the present hand-
some building, which cost $8,000. The cor-
ner stone of the new structure was laid
July 21, 1902, and the dedication services
were held December 7, 1902, conducted
THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
MTOX, LENOX *NB
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
265
by Bishop 1. W. Joj-ce. The Methodist
society has prospered and has a large
membership. It maintains a Sunday school,
Epworth League, Ladies' Aid Society and
Womens' Foreign Missionary society. Rev.
W. H. Irwin is the present pastor and the
following constitute the board of trustees :
J. W. Benson, J. I). Wilson, E. L. Ecker,
C. A. Wood, C. K. Willard, B. B. Sontag,
B. P. St. John, ]\[ilo Smith and Pascal
Vought.
Following is a list of tlie jjastors who
have supplied tlie pulpit of the Methodist
Episcopal cluirili of Heron Lake and the
dates of their appointment: W. j\I. Bear,
1873; W. H. Mock, 1873; D. Stone, 1874;
W. M. Bear, 1876; H. J. Vanfossen,
1877; W. L. Demorest, 1878; J. C. Ogle,
1879; F. Smith, 1880; W. M. Bear, 1881;
L. Glea.son, 1882.; W. Wilkinson, 1883;
H. S. Eldred, 1884; M. J. Godfrey, 1886;
J. Haubridge, 1887; D. P. Olin, 1888
(part); William Gibson, 1888; E. W.
Haley, 1891; G. W. Burtcli, 1893; L. A.
Wilsey, 1894; J. F. Porter, 1896; J.
W. Raveille, 1897; J. F. Van Camp,
1900; D. C. McColm, 1903; C. W. Morse,
1904: W. C. Sage, 1905; W. H. Irwin,
1908.
The Baptist society was the second to
perfect an organization. On July 21,
1873, a meeting was lield, presided over
by R. E. Town, at which the organization
was completed with the selection of E. C.
Sanders, John AVeir and R. E. Town as
trustees. The society erected a church
building the same year, which was used as
A house of worship by all denominations,
as the public school building, as a place
for public entertainment, and by all so-
cieties. The church society was main-
tained for several years.
The Scandinavian Lutherans had a
church organization in Heron Lake in tlic
early seventies, but it was later when the
organizations were perfected. In 1886
money was raised for the erection of a
church building. For several years the
Salem Lutheran and Norwegian Lutheran
congregations, although maintaining sep-
arate organizations, worsliipped in the
same church alternating Sundays. This
continued until Se23tember 3, 1894, when
the Norwegian Lutherans separated from
the other church and selected Candidate
0. C. Mylire as their pastor. Shortly aft-
er its organization it was admitted as
■one of the congregations of the United
church of America. A church edifice was
erected in 1898. The church society now
consists of about thirty families. Servi-
ces are held every other Sabbath, con-
ducted by Rev. IT. H. Holte. Sunday
school is held every Sunday with an at-
tendance of about thirty-five.
The Catholic church was organized in
the early eighties, and the church building
was erected in the fall of 1884. In con-
nection with the church is maintained St.
Cyril's parochial school, which was es-
tablished in 1896 by Rev. Fr. Von den
Berg. It is conducted by the Sisters of
St. Francis, of Rochester, and is in a
flourishing condition.
The Episcopal cliurch also maintained
an organization in the eighties.
THE LODGES.
The Grand Army post at Heron Lake,
No. 148, was mustered in March 31, 1886,
by the chief mustering officer. General
ifark D. Flower. Following were the
po.st"s first officers : C. R. J. Kellam, com-
mander; William McNair, senior vice
commander; John Behrenfeld, junior vice
commander; John Woolstencroft, quarter-
master; C. M. Merly, adjutant; Rev. H.
S. Eldred, chaplain ; B. J. Svennes, offi-
cer of the guard; A. H. Freer, officer of
the day; V. G. Mott, sergeant.
A Wonians Relief Corps was organized
April 2, 1887, of which Mrs. Kellam was
president and Miss Beede secretary.
15
266
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Heron Lake Lodge No. 93, Ancient Or-
der United Woricmen, was organized Oc-
tober IG, 188G, witli twenty-ciglit cliartcr
members and tlic following first officers :
J. D. Wilson, master workman; W. E.
Daniels, overseer; IT. A. Robinson, fore-
man; L. F. Lammers, recorder; T. A.
Dieson, financier; J. W. Benson, re-
ceiver; John Hubcr, guide; W. J. Jones,
inside guard; Lawrence Readle, outside
guard ; C. A. Wood, past master workman ;
B. A. Swartout, J. T. Smith, C. D. Urc,
trustees.
Manzanita Camp No. 125G, ilodern
Woodmen of America, was instituted Feb-
ruary 17, 1891, with twenty-six cliarter
members and the following officers: A.
H. Clark, V. C; L. F. Lammers, W. A.:
T. \. Dieson, E. B.; C. S. Eastwood, C;
J. E. Foss, E.; T. A. Alexander, watcli-
man : W. E. Kiessel, sentry; A. H. Clark,
physician; T. E. Hills, L. B. Lerud, and
J. Trimble, managers.
Columbian Lodge No. 210, A. F. & .\.
yi., began its organization under dispen-
sation in 1893. On February 14, of that
year, a petition w^as forwarded to the
grandmaster asking for a dispensation. It
was signed by thirteen persons, namely, L.
F. Lammers, John L. Gessell, John F.
Humiston, LeRoy Brown, C. E. J. Kellam,
W. X. Williams, L. B. Lerud, S. A. Pease,
C. M Doughty, G. C. Cooley and Davict
Brown. The petition was approved liy
tlie grandmaster April 24, and the dispen-
sation was issued the next day. On July
13, 1S93, a special session was held for the
purpose of organizing under dispensation.
Deputy Grandmaster John Hutlass pre-
siding. TJie following were chosen as the
first officers: LeRoy Brown, W. M. ; J. S.
Kibbey, S. W.; J. F. Humiston, J. W.:
L. F. Lammers, secretary; L. B. Lerud,
treasurer; C. R. J. Kellam, S. D.; C. M.
Doughty. J. D. ; G. C. Cooley. tyler : J. L.
Gessell, S. S.; W. N. Williams, J. S.
The charter was granted and the lodge
was instituted March 1, 1894. Tlie fol-
lowing have held tlie office of pastmaster:
LeRoy Brown, John L. Gessell, John F.
Humiston, J. H. Dudley and C. R. J.
Kellam.
St. Cyril Court No. 970, Catliolic Or-
der Foresters, was organized April 20,
1899, by William A. Bieter. Following
were the first officers and charter mem-
bers: William A. Bieter, C. R.; John ile-
Glin, V. C. ]{.; V. \\. Lynch, recording
secretary; Herman J. Rader, financial sec-
retary; George G. Gelir, treasurer; John
I^IcCarvel, P. C. R.; Frank Haa.s, Jerry
Sullivan and Frank Liepold, trustees; Jo-
seph Thnmas. Xichola.^ Wcinant. Joseph
J. Mirg.l, William X. Klaur, Edward D.
Flanagan, Joseph E. Fritschir. |[. ('.
Herreau. John G. Liepold, X. J. Ihnkcls,
Richard Burke, Alex Sullivan, Joseph H.
iCnott. Joseph F. Hartman, Adolph Rei-
chel, F. R. Heger, X. J. P. Murphy, Ed-
ward Wienicke. The order has a present
membership of about fifty-five.
Tiii: haxks.
Heron Ljike has two banking institu-
tions, the Farmers State Bank and the
First National Bank. The former is the
older, having been organized as a private
bank by P. E. Hill in the fall of 1S8G—
the first financial institution of the town.
It continued to be conducted as a private
bank mitil June 1. 1892, when it was re-
organized under the state banking laws
as the bank of Heron Lake, with a capital
stock of $25,000. T. A. Dieson was presi-
dent and J. S. Kibbry vice president at
the time of reorganization. January 1,
1894, there was a change in management
when J. N. McGregor became president,
B. Poppitz, vice president, and E. J.
Grimes, cashier. In 1896 B. Poppitz be-
came president, and J. N. JIcGrcgor vice
president. L. F. Lammers was made
HISTORY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
267
president June 1, 1898, and one year later
15. Poppitz became vice president. Tlie
name of the institution was changed to
State Bnnli of Heron Lake July 30, 1900,
and on January 1, 1901, W. P. St. Jolm
l)eeame president and held the office until
his death, October 21, 1905. John T.
Smith was made vice president June 1,
1901. After tlie death of Mr. St. John,
\V. A. Bieter became president and W. P.
JJrews was made assistant cashier.
The State Bank of Heron Lake was
reorganL-^ed in July, 1906, when the ma-
jority stock, wliich had been held by Mr.
St. John, was bought by the farmers of
the surrounding country and the business
men of Heron Lake and the name of the
institution changed to the Farmers State
Bank. The profits and surplus were paid
over to the old stockholders, and the new
owners took over the business of the bank,
continuing- it under tlie old charter. Tlie
otficers renuiined the game except that
John Mathias succeeded John T. Smith
as vice president. January 1, 1907, offi-
cers were clioseu as follows: John Math-
ias, president; 0. E. Dieson, vice presi-
dent; W. A. Bieter, cashier; W. F. Drews,
assistant cashier. One year later the fol-
lowing officers were chosen: Jerry Sulli-
van, president; N. J. Henkels, vice presi-
dent; W. F. Drews, cashier; P. W. Moore,
assistant c:i.shier. From the date of reor-
ganization into the Farmers State Bank
the deposits have increased from $60,000
to $1.50,000 and a surplus of $3,000 has
been accumulated. The bank was moved
into its present commodious quarters in
June, 1901, the cost of the building and
furnishings being $12,000.
The First National Bank was organ-
ized as the Peoples State Bank in Sep-
tember, 1892, with rl. W. Benson as presi-
dent. The organization into the 'First
National Bank was made June 9, 1900.
The new institution started with a capital
stock of $2.5,000, but this was later in-
creased to $35,000. The capital and sur-
plus at the present time are $45,000. The
officers are : J. W. Benson, president ; C.
M. Doughty, vice president; W. H. Jar-
mutli, cashier; Paul Benson, assistant
cashier. The bank building now occupied
was erected in 1901 at a cost, including
fixtures, of about $15,000.
CHAPTER XXI.
ALPHA, WILDER, OKABENA, ETC.
ALPHA.
IN WISCOiSrSlN (ownsliiji, on the east
line of .Jackson county, is the little
village of Alpha, an incorporated
town of about 250 inhabitants. It is on
the Milwaukee railroad and is five and
one-half miles east of Jackson. Several
lines of business are carried on here, and
its merchants enjoy a prosperous trade
from a limited area of Jackson and Mar-
tin counties. Alpha is the -youngest of
Jackson county towns.
In 189'2 a country postoffice named
Earl w-as established near the point where
the village of Alpha was afterwards built,
but it was not until the closing days of
1894 that it was announced a town would
be founded in the vicinity. Then the
Milwaukee road placed the name Wiscon-
sin on its time card as the name of a new
station on section thirteen, Wisconsin
township. At the same time it was an-
nounced that Messrs. Williamson and
Paddock, the owners of the site, were
about to survey a townsite and that prep-
arations had been made to build an ele-
vator and establish a lumber yard. Not
much j^rogress toward town building was
made during the winter, but early in the
spring of 1895 several buildings were put
up, a few business houses were established
and the town — known for a time as Wis-
consin — came into existence.
The name of the Earl postoilice was
changed to Irwin, in honor of the super-
intendent of the Southern Minnesota di-
vision of the Jlilwaukee road, in April,
and for a few months the town was known
by that name.^ During the spring and
summer the following gentlemen engaged
in business at Irwin : Charles Ean-
dall, grain buyer and lumber dealer;
Edward Schoewe, general store; Eack-
ness & Ellis, general store; M.
A. Rhodes, general store; I. D'Mersse-
man, elevator. In August the postofiice
wa.s reestablished and named Alpha, with
P. 0. Rackness as postmaster, and late
in the year a school house and church were
built.
The plat of the townsite, also named Al-
]iha, was put on record November 27,
1895. It was surveyed by Arthur Gibson
for George B. Paddock, who made the
dedication. The original plat was on the
north side of the railroad track and con-
tained only eight blocks. The streets run-
ning north and south were named Hunter,
'" . We visited the little town of Ir-
win, six miles east, and found it small but
busy. The city has six families at present.
The town has no postoffice. One was estab-
lished a short time ago. but the postmistress is
at present teaching: school thirty miles west of
town." — Jackson Republic, May 31, 1895.
269
ro
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
Knux. Miiiii. riiliner nnd Bcacli : tlie east
anil west avenues were naiiH'il Railroad.
Pacldoek and Williamson. -
Durinjr the next three years the {:rowth
of Alpha was not great, although a few
new enterprises were started. But hegin-
iiing in the fall of ]898 and continuing
during the year 1899 the village enjoyed
a l)Ooni. due to the prosperous times and
bountiful crops, and advanced rapidly to
the front. JIany new buildings were erec-
ted and many new business enterprises
were started. Au Alpha correspondent
stated that the building improvements for
the year 1899 amounted to over $35,000,
itemized a'' follows :
Cliiist Kfa.li.r. store !? 2,800
Alplia liiuik Imildiiig 3,000
A. (;ii>tli. iMiilwiue store 2,500
L. Colli), liardware store 1,500
W. h. Cobb, bhicksmilh shop 400
W. L. Cobb, addition 800
Bohlander & Boelil, addition 000
L. II. llafieman. livery barn I.IKIO
.1. T>. Yoiinji iSc Co.. improvements 2(10
Frcy & Klein, store 4,000
C. C. Xorgren, store 1.000
.'<. M. Olson, bntelier shop .WO
C. H. Whissemore. wapon shop :tOO
L. Hageman, Sr.. rosidcnee 800
Tj. Hafienian, .Jr.. residence 1 .000
Henry Belini, residence 1,000
Chiiries Combes, residence 1.200
Henry finslafson. residence 800
K. Krii-kson. residence 1.200
I. D'Mersseman. residence l.HOO
William L. Hull, residence. 1.200
William Hintborn. residence 1.100
William E. Carr. residence . .100
Conrad Freeman, residence. . 000
.Tohn Warliter. residence 600
K. Kodeck. improvements .^OO
A. 1). Packard & Son. improvements.... fiOO
A. 1). Packard & Son. (wo stores l.SOO
P. (1. Hackness. improvements 200
Theodore Jasper, improvements 100
Depot 2,000
Frey & Klein, improvements 200
Total !f.35.IOO
So great was the growth of Alpha that
the residents believed the time had come
to incorporate. In April, 1S99, a petition
'Additions to Alpha have l)een platted as fol-
lows:
Louis Klosel's First, b.v I.ouis Klesel Septem-
ber 2fi. ISflfi: survcved liv Orrin Nason.
A. P. Packard's, by A. Tt. Packard &• Son
Mav 5. 1S99: survcved bv .1. I.. Hoist.
Packard's. l>v A. U Packard and G. D. Paclf-
nrd July 12, 1899; surveyed by J. L. Hoist.
was circulated asking the county commis-
sioners to take tlie necessary steps to bring
iili'iut tlie desired change in government.
The ]jetition was granted ^lay 25, it was
ordered that a special ek>ction to vote
on the question of ineoiporalion be held
July 3, and P. 0. l?ackncss. J. S. Rhodes
and Charles P. Pandall were named as the
inspectors of the election. "For incor-
poration" carried.' and the first village
officers were chosen at another ela-tion
held July 25.
Following is a list of all who have been
decled to office during the time Alplia
ha.s been a municipal corporation:
1809 — President. Charles Combes; trustees,
William Carr. Auj;nst flroth. L. Hapeman: re-
corder, William l\ni<;er: treasurer. E. A.
Poehl: justices. P. M. Getty. .1. S. Rhodes;
constables. L. Cobb. Theodore Jasper.
1000 -President, C, L. Combes; trustees.
William Carr. Theodore Jasper. I,. Ha'-eman:
recorder. E. C. Kru<;er: treasurer. E. A. Hoeld :
justice. L. Cobb: constable. C. II. fJustafson.
1001— President. F. J. Hassing; trustees,
Theodore .Jasper. Henry Behm. L. Hapeman;
recorder. P. M. Oetty: treasurer. E. A. Boehl:
assessor. H. E. Bohlander; justices, Nels N<'1-
son. I. D'Mersseman; constables, R, Cormack,
Oscar Rackness.
1902— President. I. D'Mersseman; trustees, L.
Ilaseman, C. P. Hartwij;. Henry Belini : recor-
der, P. M. fJetty; treasurer. II. E. Bolilamler:
assessor. Georpe Becker: justices, W. H. Hass-
inp. C. A. Portmann; constables. H. Leverson.
Gust Bork.
100.'?— President. I. D'Mersseman; trustees,
F. J. Hassinp. C. P. Hartwip. Theodore Jas-
per: recorder, P. M. Getty; treasurer. H. E.
Bohlander; assessor. A. A. Kruper; justices,
C. yi. Packard. L. Burton: constables. Gust
r>ork. C. IT. Gustafson.
1004 President. T. D'Mersseman; trustees.
II. H. Ilapcman. Theodore .Jasper. Otto Bor-
chardl: recorder. P. M. Getty: treasurer. .John
Waswo: assessor. Charles Evers: justice.
Christ Geddie; constables. A. K. Simms, Tom
Fisher.
1005— President. B. K. Ellis; trustees. J. J.
McXiimara. Theodore .Jasper. Frank Matson;
recorder. W. F. .Vuten; treasurer. John Was-
wo: assessor. Charles Evers; justices. C. M.
Packard. John Diers; constable. Gust Bork.
mot;- President. F. J. Hassinp; trustees.
Theodore .Jasper. C. H. Gustafson. J. T- Ober
ineyer; recorder. P. ^t. Getty; treasurer. John
W:is\vo; assessor, Charles Evers; justices. Otto
'By a vote of 50 to 11. in 1901. the vlllafrc was
separated from Wisconsin township for all pur-
poses.
HISTOEY OP JACKSON COUNTY.
271
Kackncss, J. S. Crawle.y; constables, A. K.
Sinims. John Steincr. .
1007— President, V. J. Hassing; trustees, C.
H. Gustafson, Tlieotlore Jasper, E. A. Boehl;
recorder, H. E. Bolilander; treasurer, John
Waswo: assessor, Charles Evers; justice, Carl
J. Swonson; constable, L. A. Dorr.
mos— President, E. C. Klatt: trustees, E. A.
Boehl, Gust Bork, E. H. Vickerman: recorder,
H. E. Bohlander: treasurer, E. A. Boehl; as-
sessor, Charles Evers: justice. Otto Rackness;
constables, A. K. Simms. Carl J. Swenson.
1909— President. F. J. Hassing; trustees. E.
A. Boehl, John Steiner, C. Whismore; recorder,
H. E. Bohlander; treasurer, J. S. Crawley: as-
sessor, P. M. Getty; justice, J. J. Kukliik.
The federal census of 1900 gave Alpha
a population of '309; five years later the
number of inhabitants had increased to
241. Since its boom days Aljiha's growth
has been slow, but there have been a num-
ber of additions. For several years a
newspaper was supported, and a bank has
been conducted there for several years.
Tills was founded as the Bank of Alpha,
but in July, 1904, it was reorganized as
the State Bank of Alpha, with a capital
stock of $10,000 and with George E.
Moore as president and J. S. Crawley as
cashier. Bonds to the amount of $4,000
were voted in 1904 for the purpose of in-
stalling a water works system.
WILDER.
Wilder is an incorporated village on the
main line of the Omaha railroad, seven
miles northeast of Heron Lake. It is lo-
cated on section seven, Delafield town-
ship, near the north line of Jackson coun-
ty. Here is a little town of perliaps two
hundred inhabitants, in which are car-
ried on several lines of business. It is
situated on a slight elevation, sloping in
all directions, and is surrounded by an
excellent farming country.
The village of Wilder is about a quarter
of a century old, but AVilder as a Jack-
son county place name was bestowed in
1871. During the month of June of that
year, while the grade for the Sioux City
&: St. Paul railroad was being made, the
officials selected the site of tlio present vil-
lage of Wilder as a station on the new
line of road. The Jackson Eepublic of
July 1, 1871, .said of the selection of this
point for a station :
In the township of Delafield, in the north
part of this count}-, a sidetrack has been grad-
ed where it is no doubt intended to plat a
town. No better farming country can be found
in our whole state than in the same township
of Delafield and the townships adjacent. Tlie
Heron lake community. Big Bend and even to
lake Shetek. in Murray county, are naturally
tributary to the station to Ije located here.
Excellent roads in every direction tend to draw
business to this point,' and although the set-
tlement in the vicinity is of comparative re-
cent date, the farms ah'eady being opened and
in contemplation will make this one of the
most im])ortant shipping points on the line.
. We predict jicre will grow up one of
the best towns on the road.
The sidetrack was laid during the
month of September, but no depot was
put up, and the railroad officials made
no effort to found a town at that point.
For a short time the station was known
as Timber Lake, but in November it was
officially designated Wilder, in honor of
A. H. Wilder, who was connected with the
new railroad. For fourteen years Wilder
was nothing but a name, and retained that
only by virtue of the railroad company's
time card.
The awakening came in 1885. Then it
was announced that a fai'm college was to
be built at Wilder by the Episcopal church
and that a town was to be founded un-
der the mauageriient of Close Brothers
& Company. The effect of this announce-
ment was to make Wilder a magic word;
it was on everybody's lips.* The ac-
tivity was Ijrouglit about through the ef-
forts of Eev. D. n. Gunn, of the Episco-
pal church, w-lio had for several years had
in mind the founding of a farm school.
Early in 1885 Colonel John L. Merriam,
A. H. Wilder and Mrs. Carrie Thompson
'■'Wilder is the magic word we often hear
to lie the shrine to which pilgrims
now. It
to the northwest will wend their way
rest and plenty in its happy precincts.
Lake Correspondent, June 26, 1SS5.
and find
-Heron
272
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
offered to donalo two-tnirds of their land
lioldiiior,s on scetioii <evcn, Dolafield, to the
Kiii.-.((i|ial church of Minnesota, on condi-
lioii thai a .■ollcfrc he Iniilt tliere. A cor-
poration was formed witii Bislioj) Whipple
as president and Ifev. (Jnnu as secretarv.
and the secretarv at once set ahont rais-
in;,^ money to hnihl tlie scliool. The exc-
cntion of Ihi' ]ilans for the foundiii-r of tlie
town ipf Wihicr was phieed in otlier liands.
Concerning' tlie selection of tlic site and
the early history of the movement. Die
Windom Citizen in June, l.SH."), said:
Rev. v. OrifTiii (iuiiii. wlio has within tlir
past five years l)uilt and liad direot cliaif;p of
six churches in the lilue (Jiass refjion. has
ever since his arrival anionj; us hpen jahorin;;
for the PstaMislinient of a honu- and farm
school for iiis l.oys. His first idea was to
huild the scliool on Cottonwood lake, adjoin-
ing Windom, hut upon priicinj; the land found
that east of the lake to he '$10 per acre and
that on the west $2.'). He soon afterwanl
houfiht tlie I'omcroy tree claim, the southwest
cpiartcr of l\w nortlii'ast (unirter of section (i.
IJelalield township, and took occasion to look
over Wilder wliil,. waitiuf; for a train. He was
struck with the heauty of the nortliea^t i|uar-
ter of section 7, and upon inipiirv found it
to be held hy Messrs. .Mcrriam and Wilder and
Mrs. Thompson, of S(. I'aul. The |)rice was
put at $!) per acre, hut when it was known
for what purpose it was intended they promj)!-
ly anil generously otVered not only this hut all
their interests in section 7 free." Hut Uishop
Whipple did not feel justified in acceptin;.' at
that time.
.\fter thi, not hill-; was done for ahont two
years; then the matter was ajjain lirou;;lif ]„..
fore the hishop. who approved it. hut nothin<r
was to he done hefore his return from Kiirope.
Since his return the friends have hecn linsy
pi<'parinf; for the work.
The site for the school and farm contains
.1.'),1 acres on Timlier lake, and the doners are
well known here as intensive land owners in
Cottonwood and .lackson counties. The spot
selected for the school linildintr is on a heau-
tifnl rise of ground, whiili overlooks the whole
snrroundin/,' country, imludin;; tin' piitur-
CMjUc Tiniher hike. I'rom the summit can also
he seen Uw village of Heron Lake, six miles
distant, and on ilear days l.akcfield. twelve
miles distant.
The school building when completed is to
coat .$1.5,000. . , . The main or uprifjlit
part is to he completed hefore llecember ,T1,
work to be eommeiueil at once. The trustees
are Hishop Whipple, Rev. K. S. Thomas, rector
of St. Paul's church. St. Paul; l?ev. .lames Dob-
bins, rector of the Shattuek school, Karihault:
Kev. U, G. Gunn, S. M. Cnrev, of thp firm of
Hobinson.& Carey, St. Paul; George H. Chris-
tian, of the Minneapolis mills.
.Mr. tiunii will he resident supervisor and
general superintendent of the school. Kcsidcs
tlie .school building' there will follow helonj;-
in;; to the Kpiscopil eliurch the nssoc-iale
mission school, Kpiscopal c-hurch and rectory.
The movement is now ready. !•'. H. Close &
Company will look af.er the business interests,
while .Mr. liunn <;oes alieail with the school
buildinf;. .Mr. Gunn has been appointed by
the trustees to select the sclioid buihlin<; and
town site. The town will be jdattcd and de-
pot ^'rounds located in a few days.
We are authoritatively informed that the
f(dlowinf; business buildinjjs, besiiles numerous
residences, are only awailin;; the plaiting;
hotel, harness shop, hank, elevator, general
store, shoe shop, hanhvare store an<l land of-
fice.
The ])arties interested in the town besides
the doners (who reserve luie-third of the gift
lots) are: Frank .M. Rookwaltcr, of the Uook-
walter Kn;;iiic lonipany. Sprin^'t'ield. Ohio:
Fuller Trump. Sprin;;lield. (Ihio; Senator A.
-M. Crosby. Adrian. .Minnesota: V. I!. Close i
Company. Pipestone, and a host of others.
.Mr. (.'mill attributes his suec-oss at Wilder
mainly to the ell'orts of Jlessrs. ,T. J. Kendall
and E. S. Thomas.
'i'iic liuildiiiir of liio school and of the
town was begun in the suininer of ISS.'j,
and times were lively.'^ The foundation of
the college was completed in the fall, and
work on the superstructure was hegun
early in Decemher. Before the <lose of
liic year the following had erected build-
ings and engaged in l)u.<iness: Dufour &
Fiiidjey. o<.|,(.riil merchandise ; J. F. Cass,
restiiurant and boarding hou.«e; W. IT.
Higelow it Company, lumber and wood;
H. !\rocde. slioe shop; Cyrenius, black-
smith shoji: Klock & Bay. feed (store;
Juveland, meal market. The postofTice
was estaiilished laic in the year.
'I'lic growth of Wilder during ISS.") and
ISSil was checked to some extent because
of the inability to secure title to lots.
Deeds to the site were not turned over to
'•'Ueports from Wilder sa.v that II Is the
liveliest burs In a. hundred miles and that me-
chanics can Ret stead.v emplovment until It
freezes up: that the eollcKc hulldluK Is beliiK
rushed with a laiKe force of workmen: that
J. J. Kendalls house and niKclow & (^ompanv's
store bulldlnes b.'sin to loom up In mammoth
proportions: that inore than fortv new biilld-
iuKs arc already planned."— Lakeflcld Citizen,
July 31. J885,
i THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC UBRARY
TILDtN FOUND*'
HISTORY OF JACKSON COUNTY.
273
Bishop Wlup])lo and the trustees until
late in 188(j, and prior t(.) that time clear
title could not be given to lot purchasers.
The town wa.s platted Deeeml^er 7, 1886,
by John AV. Merriani, it liaving been
surveyed by Orriu Nason in the spring of
that year, and was recorded in January,
1887. The plat consisted of 72 blocks, di-
vided into ().38 lots. The platted town in-
cluded the north half of the northeast
quarter, the east Iialf of the northeast
quarter, the east lialf of the northwest
quarter, lot one, tlie northeast quarter and
hit two, of section 7, Delafield.
A few new business enterprises were
added during 188G. In .Tune it was re-
porteil tluit there were alxait a lialf dozen
houses in the town and that the popula-
tion was about fifty. At the close of the
year there were aljout thirty buildings,
including the college, the depot, a gen-
eral store, hardware store and a hotel. The
Breck school was incorporated in Decem-
ber, 188G, by the following persons: D. G.
Gunn, of Jackson county; E. S. Thomas,
S. M. Carey, Y. JI. Watkins and Harvey
Officer, of Ramsey county ; James Dob-
bins, of Rice county; George H. Chris-
tian of Hennepin county. The school
opened and entered upon a prosperous
career, Ijut there was not much advance
in the town for a decade after its found-
ing. It simply held its own as a little
trading point until the properous times
of tlie late nineties caused it to develop
into a liustling little village.
On the last day of tlie year 1898 a cen-
sus was taken whicli showed a population
of 195 23cople. The taking of the census
was the first step toward incorporation.
On the same day a petition wa.s prepared
asking for the incorporation of all of
section 7, except the south half of the
southeast quarter — 5G0 acres^ — into the vil-
lage of Wilder. The petition was pre-
sented to the board of county commission-
ers," and that Ijody took favorable action,
naming Marcli 28, 1899, as the date for
voting (m the question. The election
was held at the office of D. L. Riley, and
"for incorjioration" carried. Soon after-
ward municipal officers were elected and
qualified, and local government began.
There were 174 iidiabitants in Wilder
wlien the federal census of 1900 was
taken, and in 190.5 the population was
131. The town is a good trading point,
and while it has not attained great size,
it is numbered among the prosperou.s com-
munities of Jackson county.
Wilder supports one bank, the Farmers
State Bank. It was organized with a paid
up capital of .$10,000 October 1, 1900,
with the following officers: M. H. Evans,
president: E. P. Coleman, vice president;
F. H. Vail, cashier. The institution con-
tinued under this management until 1902,
when the controlling interest and major-
ity stock was bought by Cliarles Mal-
chow. F. E. JIalchow and William G,
]Malchow. The officers then became Au-
gust Wolf, president; Charles IVIalehow,
vice president ; William G. ilalchow,
cashier. The onlv change in management
since then occurred in 1906, when Au-
gust Wolf was succeeded as president by
W. J. Clark. The directors of the Farm-
ers State Bank of Wilder are Charles
:Malchow, Jolm T. Powell, F. E. Mal-
chow. Charles Winzer, Ciiai-les B. Clicadle,
W. J. Clark and Willia